Brazil: Former leader Lula 'played key role' in Petrobras corruption

Brazil's Attorney General Rodrigo Janot has asked the Supreme Court to authorise an investigation against former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for alleged corruption.

Janot accused Lula of playing a key role in the huge corruption scandal at the state oil company, Petrobras, the BBC reported.

Local media report that Janot also requested that current President Dilma Rousseff be investigated.

The reports say she is suspected of obstructing the corruption inquiry.

However, there has been no official confirmation yet of the request for investigation of President Rousseff.

Lula, who was in office between 2003 and 2011, denies the allegations.

Lula returned to frontline politics in March, when President Dilma Rousseff nominated him as her chief of staff.

But within an hour of being sworn in, a judge suspended his nomination saying it had been aimed at protecting him from possible prosecution on corruption charges.

Under Brazilian law, members of the cabinet can only be investigated by the country's top court, the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court has yet to rule on whether he can take up his post. 

Source : MENA