Senator Who Led Opposition to Lula’s Party Faces Corruption Trial
- Neves narrowly lost 2014 presidential elections to Rousseff
- Senator was implicated in plea bargain of meat tycoon Batista
Aecio Neves
Photographer: Wilfredo Riera/Bloomberg
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Brazilian Senator Aecio Neves, who narrowly lost the 2014 elections to President Dilma Rousseff, will stand trial before the country’s top court on charges of corruption and obstruction of justice.
Five justices of the Supreme Court unanimously decided to put Neves on trial for allegedly receiving 2 million reais ($590,000) in kickbacks from meat tycoon Joesley Batista, according to O Globo and other media outlets. Neves has repeatedly said he committed no crime as the money was a loan and not bribe.