Brazil's Supreme Court allows new probe into Lula's son for influence peddling

Supreme Court Justice André Mendonça has greenlit a second federal police investigation into Fábio Luís Lula da Silva, widely known as Lulinha, the son of Brazilian President Lula. The inquiry focuses on suspicions of influence peddling, specifically concerning Lulinha's alleged actions to benefit businessman Cleber Ribas de Oliveira in dealings with Dataprev, a state-owned IT company for social security.

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fishing for evidence

The Federal Police's report indicates that Ribas de Oliveira, a partner in a company called 3STRUCTURE IT, allegedly funded at least one trip for Lulinha. Investigators suspect this was in exchange for government favors. The probe into Ribas de Oliveira originated from an investigation into embezzlement at the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), where he is reportedly linked to Antônio Camilo Antunes, known as "Careca do INSS," who is considered the ringleader of the scheme.

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He did not act to benefit anyone on behalf of the federal government, and the PF found no evidence against Lulinha.

Lulinha's defense team has described the investigation as "fishing for evidence" and asserted that he did not act to benefit anyone on behalf of the federal government, claiming the police found no proof against him. Ribas de Oliveira, who identified himself as a personal friend of Lulinha, denied business dealings with Dataprev and any irregularities in his relationship with the federal government. This second investigation comes just a day after Mendonça authorized a separate inquiry into allegations of corruption and influence peddling related to attempts to obtain authorization for medicinal cannabis sales, suspecting Lulinha's involvement in pressuring health ministry officials and the presidency's cabinet.

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He is a personal friend of Lulinha, denied having had business with Dataprev and rejected irregularities in the relationship with the federal government.