CGTN America
Brazilian former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva greets supporters in the Metallurgical Union, in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Sao Paulo state, Brazil, after judge Sergio Moro issued a warrant to send Lula to prison, on April 5, 2018.
Brazil’s former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, once one of the most popular politicians on the planet, was given 24 hours to surrender to police and start a 12 year prison sentence for corruption. / AFP PHOTO / Miguel SCHINCARIOL
Ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has defied a court order to turn himself into police.
The former leader had until 5 p.m. Friday local time to present himself to authorities in Curitiba. The city is about 260 miles (417 kilometers) southwest of the Sao Paulo.
Instead, da Silva hunkered down with supporters at a metallurgical union in the Sao Paulo suburb of Sao Bernardo do Campo.
Federal judge Sergio Moro, seen by many in Brazil as a crusader against endemic graft, on Thursday had ordered da Silva’s arrest.
Last year, Moro convicted da Silva of corruption. Moro wants da Silva to begin serving his sentence of 12 years and one month.
Da Silva has always denied wrongdoing. He says he is being persecuted so that he won’t be able to run for president in October.
