Brazil Prosecutors Charge Lula's Former Chief of Staff
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's ex-chief of staff was charged with corruption, money laundering and racketeering on Friday, making him one of the most senior members of the ruling Workers' Party targeted by prosecutors in a massive corruption scandal.
Jose Dirceu, Lula's chief of staff between 2003 and 2005, was arrested on Aug. 3 and prosecutors say he was a key architect of a price-fixing and political kickback scheme at state-run oil firm Petroleo Brasileiro SA.
Prosecutors in the southern city of Curitiba presented charges against a total of 17 people, including former Petrobras executives.
(Reporting by Caroline Stauffer)
