José Dirceu: "Brazil knows I am innocent"
The phrase was uttered by the former Chief of Staff, José Dirceu, upon arriving to vote in the internal elections of the Workers' Party; sentenced to more than ten years in prison for corruption and conspiracy, he said he hoped the Supreme Federal Court would still review the decision; "I endorse Genoino's words in his defense. As he said: let justice be done, including regarding the merits. We were convicted on the merits, it's not just a matter of reducing the sentence. And being innocent," he said.
247 - Upon arriving to vote in the PT's Direct Election Process this Sunday, former minister José Dirceu spoke with journalists and reaffirmed his innocence in the case known as the mensalão scandal, where he was sentenced to ten years and ten months in prison for corruption and conspiracy. "Brazil knows I am innocent and I hope the Supreme Court will do justice," Dirceu told reporter Ricardo Chapola, from State St. Paul.
Dirceu said he hopes the Supreme Court will review its decision, not only regarding the discussion of the appeals, which could reduce the sentences, but also concerning the merits of the decisions made so far. "I fully endorse Genoino's words in his defense. As he said: let justice be done, including with regard to the merits of the case. We were convicted on the merits, it's not just a matter of reducing the sentence. And we are innocent," said the former minister.
Dirceu voted in Vila Mariana and is one of the main supporters of the current president, Rui Falcão, who is expected to be re-elected with a large majority of votes.