Brazil’s Former Presidents accused of Forming a Criminal Organization

Former President of Brazil Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Dilma Rousseff and other staff part of their Workers’ Party have been accused of forming a criminal organization.

Charges were filed on Tuesday as part of an investigation into a scheme to inflate state contracts to pay kickbacks and bribes to politicians. The corruption probe has netted dozens of executives and senior politicians.

An accusation against Rousseff includes:

Suspicion of breaking budgetary rules by shifting money around to cover short-term deficits, ultimately landing her on an impeachment trial

Some accusations against Luiz include:

Multi-billion dollar bribery scheme revolving around the state-run oil company, Petrobras
Obstruction charges on suspicion that he tried to pay a former Petrobras executive to stop him from giving information to authorities

Silva, his successor and allies are accused of orchestrating the receipt of around $480 million in bribes.

Silva alone faces several charges and has already been sentenced to 9 ½ years in another case, which he is appealing.

For more information see: LA Times

If you require representation for criminal offences, please contact our Criminal Lawyer David Schell, or call Devry Smith Frank LLP at 416-449-1400 today.

By: Nicolas Di Nardo

“This article is intended to inform and entertain. Its content does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon by readers as such. If you require legal assistance, please see a lawyer. Each case is unique and a lawyer with good training and sound judgment can provide you with advice tailored to your specific situation and needs.”

Posted onMarch 8, 2021March 15, 2021/ David M. Schell

The First Steps After Being Criminally Charged During The COVID-19 Pandemic

If you have been arrested by the police and are now required to navigate the criminal justice system, it is useful to know in advance what to expect, particularly with an eye to the latest changes to criminal court proceedings amidst the pandemic. A number of things can happen after being arrested and charged. If [...]

Posted onApril 30, 2020September 30, 2020/ David M. Schell

What can I get ticketed for during the COVID-19 State of Emergency in Ontario?

This blog is co-written by our former articling student, Janet Son. There is a growing list of Orders-in-Council being made under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (“EMCPA”), which provides the Ontario government with sweeping powers to put measures in place to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a growing concern about excessive ticketing and [...]

Posted onNovember 28, 2019September 30, 2020/ David M. Schell

When Does Negligence Become Criminal?

The Criminal Code of Canada contains several negligence based criminal offences, including dangerous driving as well as failure to provide the necessaries of life. The broader offence of criminal negligence is contained at section 219 of the Criminal Code. Section 220 is the provision dealing with criminal negligence causing death. They read as follows: 219 [...]

Posted onFebruary 22, 2019June 14, 2020/ David M. Schell

Can I be Criminalized or given a Custodial Sentence for Possessing or Using ‘Legal’ Cannabis?

The answer to the above question is really dependent on how someone obtains their cannabis and what one then does with their legal cannabis. Bill C-45 has now become law and in a previous post we spoke about the use of recreational cannabis and its legalization on October 17, 2018, by the federal government. In response, the [...]

Posted onFebruary 11, 2019May 20, 2023/ David M. Schell

What Are the Consequences of Filing a False Police Report In Canada?

By now we have all been subjected to the tragic details of television star Jussie Smollett’s alleged attack in Chicago. When the news broke initially, it seemed as though Smollett was a survivor of what appeared to be a hate crime and his colleagues within the entertainment business did not hesitate to express their support [...]

LAWYER SEARCH