Brazilian court to decide on fate of former president Lula

Sao Paulo: Brazil's Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on Wednesday on the request of former president Luis Inacio Lula da Silva to stay out of prison while he appeals a corruption conviction.

Brazil's former president , right, has been sentenced for more than 12 years for corruption but is free while he appeals.
Photo: AP

The country's attorney general is urging the top court to reject a request for habeas corpus calling it an "exaggeration" of the right of appeal.

Attorney-General Raquel Dodge said justice would be failed by delaying Lula's conviction.

He was found guilty last year of trading favours with a construction company for a promised beachfront apartment. The conviction was upheld in January by an appeals court, which increased the sentence from nine to 12 years and one month.

Lula currently leads preference polls for October's presidential election, although a "clean state" law would bar him from running given the confirmed guilty verdict on appeal.

Lula maintains his innocence and continues to campaign while all appeal avenues are not exhausted.