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Lula da Silva was not given fair treatment by judge, supreme court rules

FORMER Brazilian President Luiz Inacio “Lula” da Silva was not given fair treatment by the former judge who led corruption embezzlement investigations against him, the Supreme Court has ruled. 

Judge Sergio Moro oversaw the so-called Car Wash investigations against the popular leftist leader.

Leaked messages in 2019 showed collusion between Mr Moro and prosecutors during the process. 

On Tuesday, Justice Carman Lucia, who cast the tie-breaking vote, rejected Mr Moro’s procedural decisions and disallowed evidence in the case used against Lula.

She said: “In this case what is discussed is something that for me is key: everyone has the right to a fair trial, due legal process, and the impartiality of the judge.”

The Supreme Court allowed Lula’s legal suit against Mr Moro, who he accused of bias during the corruption trial held against him and claimed political persecution. 

The final vote was three against two in favour of Lula. 

It followed a separate decision from Justice Edson Fachin earlier this month, annulling Lula’s two convictions on the grounds that he was tried without proper jurisdiction and established that he could be retried. 

The conviction meant that Lula was unable to run in the 2018 presidential elections, handing a win to far-right Jair Bolsonaro. Mr Moro quickly became President Bolsonaro’s justice minister until last year.

Senator Jean Paul Prates of Lula’s Workers’ Party said: “Moro enters history as a judge who, for motives alien to the justice system, opted to strip the political rights of a great leader with whom he didn’t agree.

“This decision combined with the annulment of Lula’s convictions at the start of the month make more than clear: he is innocent!”

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