Lula to Stay in Jail as Brazil Supreme Court Reverses Ruling
- Chief Justice blocks earlier decision to free prisoners
- Original ruling could have freed up to 169,000 criminals
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks outside the headquarters of the Workers' Party in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, on April 7, 2018.
Photographer: Rodrigo Capote/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Brazil’s Chief Justice struck down a ruling that would have freed prisoners jailed before the end of their appeals process, including former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Judge Dias Toffoli issued the injunction on Wednesday evening, just hours after one of his colleagues on the Supreme Court had issued the shock, unilateral ruling to release prisoners who still had appeals pending. Lawyers for Lula had filed a petition to free their client based on the earlier decision. The public prosecutors office had appealed it.