Prison time is on the horizon for former Brazilian President Lula da Silva

Latin America

(FILES) In this file picture taken on January 25, 2018 former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gestures during a campaign rally to launch his presidential candidacy for the upcoming October elections, at the Workers Central Union (CUT) headquarters in Sao Paulo, Brazil. On March 26, 2018 a Brazilian court rejected former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s latest appeal against a corruption conviction that could see him sent to prison for 12 years and prevented from making a political comeback. (AFP PHOTO / Nelson ALMEIDA)

A Federal Court in Brazil rejected another appeal by the former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to overturn his conviction on corruption charges, and the resulting prison sentence of just over 12 years.

In most cases, a defendant in this position would face immediate arrest, but for now the former president remains free.

CGTN’s Paulo Cabral reports from Sao Paulo.