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Brazil Police Postpone Lula’s Arrest Until At Least Saturday

© AP Photo / Andre PennerFormer Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a meeting with the executive members of the Workers Party, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018
Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva speaks during a meeting with the executive members of the Workers Party, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 - Sputnik International
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RIO DE JANEIRO (Sputnik) - Brazil’s former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will not be taken to prison on Friday after his defense team reached a tentative deal with the federal police, local media reported.

The 72-year-old politician refused to turn himself in to the police before the deadline expired earlier on Friday. He said he would stay put at a metalworkers’ union building, surrounded by thousands of his supporters.

The Brazilian federal police said security conditions did not allow for a safe arrest under a warrant issued Thursday by a federal judge, according to O Globo. The talks on Lula starting to serve his 12-year prison sentence will continue on Saturday.

Earlier, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s defense team filed a motion to Brazil’s Supreme Court on Friday in a last-ditch attempt to delay his jail sentence, according to local media.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva cries at the press conference after Rio won the right to host the 2016 Olympic games, on October 2, 2009 in Copenhagen - Sputnik International
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The lawyers asked the court to suspend an arrest warrant issued Thursday by federal judge Sergio Moro, arguing that Lula had not exhausted his appeal rights, according to the Folha de S. Paulonewspaper.

The Brazilian top court this week voted six to five to reject Lula’s earlier motion to stay out of prison while he appeals a bribery conviction.

The federal judge gave Lula until 5 p.m. Friday to turn himself in to the police. The deadline came and went, but the embattled former president said he would await his arrest at a union house, according to his lawyer Jose Roberto Batochio.

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