BRASILIA: Six Brazilian opposition lawmakers urged prosecutors yesterday to probe former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva over his alleged role in a congressional vote-buying scheme when he was in office.
Roberto Freire, head of the Socialist People's Party, said he led the call for a probe after the weekly Veja published testimony by indicted businessman Marco Valerio linking the popular Lula to the plot.
"There is a charge by the main operator of the Mensalao (graft scheme), Marco Valerio, that the mastermind of the organization is ex-president Lula. This is extremely serious and must be investigated," Freire told AFP.
Late last month, the Supreme Court sentenced Valerio to 40 years and one month in jail for his part in the bribery scheme that ran from 2002 to 2005 during Lula's first term.
Twenty-five of 37 former ministers, lawmakers, businessmen and bankers were found guilty of corruption in their absence by the Supreme Court and are awaiting sentencing.
They include three former Lula aides, ex-chief of staff Jose Dirceu, Jose Genoino, who headed Lula's ruling Workers' Party at the time and party treasurer Delubio Soares.
The scandal nearly cost Lula his re-election in 2006. But the 67-year-old founder and leader of the leftist PT was cleared.
Lula was easily re-elected in 2006 and handed over power to his protegee and fellow PT member Dilma Rousseff at the end of his second four-year term.
In its latest edition, Veja reported that Valerio sought a plea-bargaining deal with judges in which he implicated Lula in exchange for a reduced sentence.
Lula has always denied any role in the scandal and offered apologies on behalf of the PT.
Prosecutors alleged the bribe money was skimmed from advertising budgets of state-owned companies through a company owned by Valerio.
A source in the prosecutor's office said that the call for a Lula probe would be examined to determine whether it has merit.
Lula's foundation would not comment on the case.
Brazil opposition presses for graft probe against Lula
