Police detained Brazil's ex-president on Friday. Here's what you need to know.
Brazil's federal police detain former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for questioning in an anti-corruption probe involving the state owned oil company, that has ensnared several top executives and officials.
The Washington Post - 3/5/2016
Brazil awoke in shock on Friday, as federal police surrounded the home of former president Luiz In谩cio 鈥淟ula鈥 da Silva听and took him away for . Lula鈥檚 detention is related to a massive corruption case known as the Lava Jato investigation. What does this mean and why is it important? Here鈥檚 a听primer:
What is the Lava Jato investigation?
In the run-up to the 2014 presidential elections, a task force of prosecutors and federal police began investigating corruption at Petrobras, Brazil鈥檚 state-owned oil company. While on the trail of a money launderer who laundered ill-got gains through a car wash (in Portuguese, a high pressure wash is known as a 鈥渓ava jato鈥), they found an unexplained gift of a Land Rover to a Petrobras executive.The ensuing investigation uncovered millions of dollars of theft by听white-collar criminals. More importantly, the investigation also turned up evidence of significant off-the-books kickbacks by Brazil鈥檚 largest construction firms to politicians and political parties, including the governing Workers鈥 Party (PT) and its allies in the PMDB and PP, political parties that are part of the ruling coalition.
The ensuing investigation uncovered millions of dollars of theft by听white-collar criminals. More importantly, the investigation also turned up evidence of significant off-the-books kickbacks by Brazil鈥檚 largest construction firms to politicians and political parties, including the governing Workers鈥 Party (PT) and its allies in the PMDB and PP, political parties that are part of the ruling coalition.
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About the Author
Matthew Taylor
Professor, School of International Service, American University, and former Brazil Institute Fellow
Brazil Institute
The Brazil Institute鈥攖he only country-specific policy institution focused on Brazil in Washington鈥攁ims to deepen understanding of Brazil鈥檚 complex landscape and strengthen relations between Brazilian and U.S. institutions across all sectors.听 Our mission is to provide thoughtful leadership and innovative ideas to help democracies evolve and enhance their capacity to deliver results. We achieve this by producing independent research and programs that bridge the gap between scholarship and policy, while serving as a hub for policymakers, scholars, and private sector leaders.听 Read more
