![Brazil's former President Lula da Silva leaves a meeting with senators of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party in Brasilia Brazil's former President Lula da Silva leaves a meeting with senators of the Brazilian Democratic Movement Party in Brasilia](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/rtsa1ht.jpg?quality=85&w=2400)
By Nash Jenkins
Charges are being filed against former Brazilian President Lula da Silva amid a massive corruption investigation in the country, the BBC reports.
Lula and his wife are among sixteen people facing allegations of money laundering as part of a larger inquiry into the state oil company Petrobras. In the former President’s case, the case concerns a waterfront penthouse he purportedly bought at a high-class resort.
Lula vigorously denies that he has ever owned the apartment and says that the charges are part of a plot to politically discredit him. Civilians and political figures alike have also spoken out against the charges against the popular former leader.
[BBC]
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