Brazil judge orders corruption trial for ex-President Silva
RIO DE JANEIRO — Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva must stand trial on charges of money laundering and corruption, a Brazilian judge ruled Tuesday.
Judge Sergio Moro said there is enough evidence to start a judicial process against Silva, his wife and six others in a widening corruption probe centred on the country’s huge state-run oil company, Petrobras.
Prosecutors have called Silva the “maximum commander” of the Petrobras graft scandal that has rocked Brazil. Prosecutors allege that billions of dollars in bribes were paid to win inflated contracts from the company.
The judge’s decision had been expected after prosecutors charged Silva last week.