Ex-presidents accused of forming criminal group in Brazil
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Brazil's top prosecutor is accusing former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, former President Dilma Rousseff and several other senior members of their Workers' Party of forming a criminal organization.
Attorney General Rodrigo Janot filed the charges late Tuesday with the Supreme Federal Tribunal.
The charges are part of a huge investigation into a scheme to inflate state contracts in order to pay kickbacks and bribes to politicians. The corruption probe has already netted dozens of executives and senior politicians.
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Silva alone is facing several charges and has already been sentenced to 9½ years in prison in one case. He is appealing.
The indictment accuses Silva, his successor Rousseff and several allies of orchestrating the receipt of around $480 million in bribes through their control of state organs.