Brasilia - A Brazilian supreme court judge rejected on Friday a fresh bid
by former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to avoid prison for corruption
while appeals wind their way through the court system.
However, though the judge, Edson
Fachin, shot down the "habeus
corpus" challenge for now, he said
it would be studied again by a full panel of the court's 11 judges later on.
"This decision by Justice
Fachin will give the Federal Supreme Court the opportunity to apply the
constitution, especially as it relates to guaranteeing the presumption of
innocence up until a final decision is taken," Lula's defence lawyers said in a statement.
Lula is making every effort to
stave off any prison time while he angles to return as president in elections
later this year.
Surveys put him in the lead, with
many Brazilians remembering his poverty-cutting success during his 2003-2010
presidency. But he is also rejected by 40% of voters, many of whom see him as
responsible for the country's subsequent economic morass, and systematic graft
uncovered by prosecutors over the past four years.
Last month, the 72-year-old fiery
leftwing politician was ordered to serve 12 years behind bars after being found
guilty of corruption. He was accused of receiving a luxury seaside triplex
apartment as a bribe by a construction group.
Within days of that conviction,
his lawyers tried - and failed - to delay the sentence being applied with an initial appeal.
But they did score one victory
last week when a judge ruled that Lula could have his passport back, dismissing
fears that the ex-leader might try to abscond.
Although foiled yet again on
Friday, Lula and his lawyers have not yet exhausted all avenues open to them in
Brazil's legal system, even if their options are narrowing.
