Brazil: Federal Police Recommend Charges For Lula

Brazil authorities have recommended corruption charges against former President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and his wife, local media said Friday.



The couple is accused of using public funds for the construction of an apartment in the coastal city of Guaruja in Sao Paulo state, according to O Goblo newspaper.



The indictment said the leader of the Worker Party (PT) and mentor to suspended President Dilma Rousseff received 2.4 million reals ($747,896) in benefits from the OAS construction company.



Almost half of that figure, 1.1 million reals ($339,000) was for work done in the apartment and 1.3 million reals ($399,000) for the storage of the presidential collection.



Lula is accused of bribery, money laundering and forgery while it is alleged that his wife, Marisa Leticia, was engaged in passive corruption and money laundering, the Brazilian newspaper said. The couple denies the accusations and Lula has said he did not own the apartment.



The recommendations from federal police come on the second day of a political trial against Rousseff, who could be permanently removed from office next week.



The Brazilian president will present her defense next week and Lula has expressed intentions to accompany her.



Prosecutors will investigate the recommendations by the federal police before deciding if Lula should be tried. -