Prosecutors in Brazil have filed a suit against former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for allegedly misusing $5.7 million in public funds.
They sayMr. Lula used the money to mail 10 million letters to retirees promoting low interest loans with BMG bank. Prosecutors say the letters provided no public service because the law allowing the loans was passed 10 months earlier.
The former president's social security minister, Amir Lando, has also been implicated in the 2004 scheme.
Prosecutors want Lula and Lando to reimburse the government for money spent on the letters and postage.
The former president has not released a public response to the charge.