Zanin: Testimonies destroy accusation against Lula in the triplex case.

247 - The criminal case against former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva regarding the Guarujá triplex apartment included new testimonies from defense witnesses this Monday, the 13th. Among the testimonies collected, lawyer Cristiano Zanin Martins highlighted that there are again revelations that destroy the basis of the accusation against Lula. 

"Adriano Pires Ribeiro's testimony clarified that, starting in 2008, OAS began conducting feasibility studies to take over some projects for Bancoop. He also clarified that OAS imposed as a condition for taking over these projects that there be a minimum level of 90% participation from the cooperative members," says Zanin. 

According to the lawyer, the procedure adopted by OAS is incompatible with the prosecution's argument against Lula. "In the sense that Mrs. Marisa would have bought a share in Bancoop in 2005 already knowing that she would receive a property in 2009 that was different from the one her share entitled her to," he stated. 

Also heard in the same criminal case was the former president of Petrobras, José Sergio Gabrielli, who denied having been instructed by Lula to commit illegal acts. During Gabrielli's testimony, Judge Sergio Moro again argued with Lula's lawyers, who accused him of being an inquisitor.

Check out Infomoney's report on the subject:

During Gabrielli's testimony, Lula's defense accused Moro of asking "questions like an inquisitor."

Former Petrobras president José Sergio Gabrielli denied receiving instructions from former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to commit illegal acts at the state-owned company and said that appointments to company positions are a tradition. Gabrielli testified before Judge Sérgio Moro, responsible for the Lava Jato Operation case in the Federal Court, as a defense witness for former president Lula in the criminal case investigating the acquisition of a property in Guarujá (SP). During the testimony, the judge and Lula's defense lawyers had another heated exchange. The defense accused Moro of acting like an "inquisitor." The judge denied this.

In his testimony, Gabrielli denied that he had been instructed by Lula to commit illegal acts. "The conversations I had with President Lula were always on the level of strategy, the importance of Petrobras at the center of Brazilian industrial policy, and its importance in the development of wealth. We never had any conversation about the use of illicit funds in connection with Petrobras' activities," said Gabrielli, answering questions from former President Lula's defense.

Indications
The former president of Petrobras stated that appointments to Petrobras' management positions have been a tradition since the state-owned company's creation, and that former directors Nestor Cerveró and Paulo Roberto Costas had a history within the company before reaching director positions.

"Paulo Roberto Costa was not a newcomer to Petrobras; he is a long-time engineer and did not exhibit any of the behavior he later confessed to. He was a quiet person, dutiful, and showed no illicit behavior. Nestor Cerveró was also a long-time director at Petrobras and, in the international area, he complied with the company's directives," said Gabrielli.

Cerveró and Paulo Roberto, convicted in the Lava Jato corruption scandal, reached a plea bargain agreement in which they admitted to criminal practices.

Discussion
Lula's defenders accused Moro of acting like an "inquisitor" by questioning Gabrielli. Moro denied this, saying he was only asking questions and requested respect for the court's decision.

After the defense lawyers and the Public Prosecutor's Office directed questions to Gabrielli, Moro asked the former president of Petrobras about the approval of Jorge Zelada's name for the international directorate of the state-owned company. The name was approved by the company's board of directors, which at the time was chaired by Gabrielli. Zelada replaced Cerveró in the position.

Gabrielli argued that there had been a "redefinition" of the international board and that, therefore, there had been a change in the leadership of the board and the appointment of Zelada to the position. The former president of Petrobras, however, could not say who had made the nomination. He only said that it was the then chairman of the board and Minister of Finance at the time, Guido Mantega, who suggested the name. Moro insisted on whether, as a member of the board, Gabrielli should not have inquired about the reasons for Zelada's appointment to the position.

At that moment, Lula's defense said that the judge was trying to lead the answers. "The questions have already been answered," said the defense attorney. Moro, in turn, denied that he was leading. "I have patiently listened to the questions from the defense and the Public Prosecutor's Office and I am asking my own questions," the magistrate retorted.

"Your questions are those of an inquisitor, and ours are those of a judge," the defense attorney accused. Moro asked for respect for the court.

Zelada also entered into a plea bargain agreement with the Lava Jato task force and was convicted for his involvement in the corruption scheme at the state-owned company.