09.07.201811:53:00UTC+00BRAZIL: Federal Justice Keeps Lula In Jail

The chairman of the 4th Regional Federal Court in Brazil (TRF4), Justice Carlos Eduardo Thompson Flores Lenz, overthrew the decision of judge Rogerio Favreto, who granted a habeas corpus to former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Sunday morning. The Thompson Flores ruling kept Lula in jail.

Favreto granted the habeas corpus to Lula on an emergency basis as of Sunday. Despite being on vacation in Portugal, the first instance judge Sergio Moro questioned Favreto's ruling, arguing that the judge of the higher instance had "no jurisdiction" to take a similar decision.

The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) also filed an appeal against habeas corpus. Subsequently, Federal Justice Jolo Pedro Gebran Neto, rapporteur for Lava Jato's proceedings in the second instance, ruled that Favreto's decision had not been complied with. Favreto once again ordered Lula's release. It was then that Lenz ruled that the former Brazilian President should be kept in jail.

Lula has been imprisoned since April 7. He was sentenced to 12 years and a month in prison for corruption and money laundering, but the case is pending appeals. Lula intends to be the presidential candidate in October's election for the Workers' Party.