Court ruling to affect ex-president da Silva, Brazil vote
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An appellate court in Brazil has begun its review of a corruption conviction against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
If the three-member court upholds the conviction, da Silva could be barred from running in elections later this year. Despite his legal troubles, the 72-year-old leads preference polls.
The case in question is related to a beachfront apartment in Guaruja, a city in the state of Sao Paulo. Prosecutors argued that da Silva was promised the apartment, owned by construction company OAS, in exchange for contracts.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The former president has repeatedly argued the case is politically motivated. He notes that he never owned the apartment.
In July, Judge Sergio Moro sentenced da Silva to nine and a half years in prison.