Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, President of Brazil (2003–2010, 2023–present), has faced numerous high-profile corruption and money laundering allegations, primarily stemming from the Operation Car Wash (Lava Jato) investigation. In 2017, Lula was convicted of passive corruption and money laundering regarding a triplex apartment in Guarujá, allegedly received as a bribe from the construction firm OAS. He was sentenced to nine years and six months, later increased to 12 years and one month, and served 580 days in prison starting in 2018. In 2021, the Supreme Federal Court annulled these convictions, ruling that the 13th Federal Court of Curitiba lacked jurisdiction and that presiding Judge Sergio Moro was biased. Following these rulings, all pending corruption and money laundering cases against Lula—including the Atibaia ranch case involving alleged renovations by Odebrecht and OAS—were dismissed or annulled. Lula was also implicated in the 2005 Mensalão vote-buying scandal; he denied knowledge of the scheme. Additionally, he was indicted in 2015 regarding Operation Zelotes for alleged bribery to pass legislation benefiting the automotive industry, but he was acquitted of these charges in 2021. Investigations into alleged influence peddling involving foreign contracts also occurred during his career, but did not result in convictions.