In this Jan. 18, 2018 photo, former Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva speaks during a meeting with artists and intellectuals in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Brazilian judges are scheduled to rule Wednesday on the former President's appeal of his conviction on corruption and money laundering charges. The decision could prevent da Silva from running in this year’s presidential elections and even potentially end the career of the enduringly popular politician. Here’s a look at the case and its importance. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
In this Jan. 17, 2018 photo, shows a view of the 297-square-meter rooftop apartment in Guaruja, Brazil. A judge has ruled that construction company OAS prepared and renovated the beachfront apartment that was intended for former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The apartment was supposed to be payment for favors, including contracts with state-run oil giant Petrobras. Da Silva denies owning the apartment, saying he never had a key to it, never slept there and visited it only once. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
In this Jan. 19, 2018 photo, lawyer Cristiano Zanin, lawyer for former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's stands during a interview in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The case against da Silva stems from Latin America’s largest-ever corruption probe, known as Operation Car Wash. Launched in March 2014, the investigation began a few miles from Brazil's Congress with the arrest of a gas station owner suspected of delivering bribes. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
In this Jan. 18, 2018 photo, former Brazilian President Luiz Ignacio Lula da Silva speaks during a meeting with artists and intellectuals in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Da Silva is facing charges in six other cases. Among the accusations against him are that he received kickbacks in the form of properties for performing favors and accepted bribes from Odebrecht in exchange for helping the construction giant secure credit lines from the state development bank. Da Silva’s defense team has rejected all of the accusations, saying evidence is lacking or invented and that prosecutors and judges are persecuting him because they want to stain his time in office and prevent him from running for president again. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)