After an intense day marked by an impassioned speech before many of his supporters, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva surrendered himself into police custody to serve his 12-year prison sentence after being convicted for corruption-related crimes and ending all possibilities of his return to power.
The former Head of State was transferred to the police headquarters in Curitiba, Brazil , at 22:30 local time, after his standoff at the headquarters of the Metalworkers Union in Sao Bernardo do Campo, which ended with the announcement of his surrender.
Many of his supporters and opposers waited outside the building to see Lula da Silva arrive – a show of the division his case has generated in Brazil. There are also reports of civil unrest, which prompted law enforcement officers to use stun grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd.
Before his surrender; however, Lula da Silva, who is Brazil's first working-class president, gave a speech before his supporters gathered in Sao Bernardo do Campo .
“I will comply with the order,” said the politician, addressing the crowd, “I'm not above the law.” He vowed to leave prison a stronger man, insisting on his innocence and claiming his conviction had underlying political motives – as he was the front-runner of this year's presidential campaign – yet he announced he would still turn himself in.
Lula da Silva currently faces six trials more on corruption charges.
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