The Americas

Brazil's Lula leaves prison for grandson's funeral

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Brazil's Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attend the wake of his 7-year-old grandson Arthur, who died of meningitis on Friday, in Sao Bernardo do Campo, Brazil, Saturday, March 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Nelson Antoine)

FILE - In this July 5, 2017 file photo, Brazil's Former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva attends the inauguration ceremony for the new leadership of the Workers' Party, in Brasilia, Brazil. Chairwoman Gleisi Hoffmann said that the party will ask a judge to release da Silva from prison to attend the funeral of his 7-year-old grandson, who died of meningitis on Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres, File)

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has temporarily left prison to attend his 7-year-old grandson's funeral.

Da Silva has been jailed in the Parana state capital of Curitiba. He was released at 7 a.m. local time Saturday morning and flew to Sao Paulo by plane before taking a helicopter to Sao Bernardo do Campo, where the funeral is taking place.

It's the first time da Silva's left prison since being jailed in April 2018.

Da Silva's grandson, Arthur Lula da Silva, died of meningitis Friday. Arthur is the child of Sandro Luis Lula da Silva, one of the sons of the ex-president.

In January, da Silva's brother died, but courts didn't allow him to leave prison.

Da Silva is serving a 12-year sentence for corruption and money laundering.