Without evidence against Lula, investigators and press resort to conversations that never took place

In a statement to
the press Instituto Lula said that the recent wave of libelous
accusations against Brazil’s former president Luiz Inácio Lula da
Silva in the local press are based on illegal leaks by
investigators of depositions made by convicted criminals which only prove that no there is no trace of evidence
of wrong-doing by Lula even after more than two years of investigations on all his
professional and political activities.

“For more than two
years former president Lula’s bank accounts, tax payments, travels
and conversations have been thoroughly investigated and nothing has
been found to link him to the wrong-doings in Petrobras because Lula
has always acted in strict accordance to the law,” Instituto Lula
said.

Instituto Lula
labeled the illegal leaks – which were based on supposed
allegations made by a convicted politician Pedro Correa in a plea
bargain agreement with public attorneys – disgusting and reaffirmed
the legality of Lula’s acts before, during and after his presidential
terms.

“The democratic
rule of law does not admit this kind of treacherous and cowardly
manipulation neither by public agents nor the media, which uses it to
install a campaign of hate and libel against former president Lula,”
Instituto Lula’s press office wrote in a statement published on May
27.

The statement
reminds the Brazilian public that the alleged crimes were lies made
up by Mr. Correa in an attempt to reduce his 20-year prison sentence
for money laundering and corruption.

Lula also reaffirmed
that such leaks show there proof of alleged crimes have and will not
be found despite a two-investigation of his tax payments, bank
accounts, trips and even private conversations.

Lula also denounced
the violation of the rights of his family.

See below a summary
in English of the most recent statements:

→ 28/05/2016:
Statement about recordings leaked illegally – It is simply disgusting
the publication of mock conversations with a clear intention to
include former president Lula in illegalities in which he did not
take part. The illegally leaked recordings is yet another proof that,
after investigations of more than two years, the federal public
prosecutors didn’t find any evidence against Lula because Lula has
always acted illegally.

→ 27/05/2016:
Statement sent to Rede Globo about slanderous reports published by
Veja news magazine – For more than two years former president Lula’s
bank accounts, tax payments, travels and conversations have been
thoroughly investigated and nothing has been found to link him to the
wrong-doings in Petrobras because Lula has always acted in strict
accordance to the law.

Former president
Lula was not accessory to the crimes committed and, furthermore, did
not organize any kind of illegal action and the Car Wash
investigators know this.

You cannot take as
truth the word of defendants that have already confessed their crimes
and that negotiate accusations with no proof in order to leave
prison.

You cannot take
seriously slanderous reports published by Veja newsweekly magazine
which lies and campaigns against Lula for decades.

As a result of
evidence of yet another illegally leaked declarations, Lula’s lawyers
will seek access to the declarations made by the defendant Pedro
Correa to take the legal action necessary in the face of yet another
arbitrary action against the former president.

→ 27/05/2016: With
no proofs against Lula, federal prosecutors leak invented
conversations – Pedro Correa has been convicted by Judge Sérgio Moro
to over 20 years of prison on 72 charges of corruption and 328
charges and money laundering. In order not to serve this sentence
that he signed a plea bargain deal with the Federal Public
Prosecutors involving former president Lula and even inventing
dialogues which would have occurred 12 years ago.

It is disgusting
that police officers and prosecutors transcribe this farce in an
official document in such a way as to hurt the honour of former
president Lula and one of the most respected politicians in Brazil,
deceased Senator José Eduardo Dutra who cannot defend himself.

The democratic rule
of law does not admit this type of treacherous and cowardly
manipulation, which is used by the media for its ongoing hate
campaign against Lula.

This disgusting lies
is just reaffirms the fact that after two years Car Wash
investigations have not found any proof or evidence that Lula
participated in the wrong-doings in federal oil company Petrobras
because Lula has always acted within the law. That is why they are
now relying on untrue plea bargain.

→ 25/05/2016:
Statement sent to TV news program Jornal Nacional about recordings of
conversations with Renan Calheiros – The arbitrary and violent
actions committed against Lula are notorious which includes illegal
forceful conduction of Lula for questioning, monitoring of telephone
conversations, violation of banking privacy and the invasion his home
and that of his sons. The conversations cited are part of yet another
illegal leak which confirm the witch hunt that the former president
is being subjected to. Lula has always cooperated with investigations
in order to uphold the truth.