SAO PAULO: A Brazilian appeals court judge on Sunday ordered President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to remain in jail, reversing an earlier order from judge on the same court.
Judge Joao Gebran Neto is the judge in charge of overseeing da Silva’s case at the Fourth Federal Regional Tribunal and a legal analyst said his decision supersedes the other judge’s.
Earlier Sunday, Judge Rogerio Favreto ordered da Silva freed. A brief impasse ensued when a lower court judge ordered police to hold off.
Gebran Neto then stepped in.
Da Silva began serving his sentence in April after he was convicted in a case connected to Brazil’s massive corruption investigation. He denies wrongdoing.
Hundreds of da Silva supporters are gathering in the city where he is jailed calling for his release.
