Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva surrenders to the police. Through this surrender, Lula's 12 years of succession started.
Lula was asked to surrender on Friday (April 6th) at 5 pm in the local time to start the 12-year sentence on Thursday for corruption. But without following the order, he took refuge with the supporters in the building of the Steel Workers Union in São Paulo, in his hometown.
After two days there, Lula surrendered on Saturday yesterday. Lula claims to be innocent by denying corruption allegations.
Today, on Sunday, BBC News reported that 72-year-old Lula came out of the building after the court had passed the deadline. During surrender to police, a large number of supporters were surrounded by Lula's car.
Police took Lula to a helicopter for the prison in the country's southern city of Curitiba. After the landing of the helicopter, the Lulabishers burned fireworks. At that time riot police fired tear gas shells and rubber bullets to disperse them. The country's fire department said eight people were injured in the incident.
Lula was ahead as a candidate for the presidential election in October. However, through this proxy, the race is now extended to other candidates.
Lula has become a leader from the metalwork and labor leader, in the left-hand politics of Latin America. About half a century he was the first leftist president in Brazil.
Lula has served as president for two terms in the country. The allegation was that, as a bribe in exchange for receiving government jobs, Lula took a luxurious apartment from a major construction firm in Brazil. The court gave him 12 years imprisonment last year. Against this, he appealed to the Supreme Court of the country. On Thursday, the Supreme Court dismissed his appeal and asked to surrender after the deadline.