Brazil court authorizes arrest warrant for ex-President Lula

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during an act in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 02 April 2018 (issued 05 April 2018). Brazilian Supreme Court on 04 April 2018 rejected a habeas corpus tried by the defense of Lula and thus opening the possibility of jail time to the country's most popular leader, sentenced to twelve years in prison for corruption. [Photo: IC]

An appeals court on Thursday authorized Brazil's judiciary to issue an arrest warrant against ex-president and presidential hopeful Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

It comes just hours after the Federal Supreme Court rejected a habeas corpus motion to spare Lula from having to begin a 12-year prison sentence until he had exhausted his appeals process.