Former Brazilian president in jail over corruption

A court has sentenced former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula Da Silva to nine and a half years in prison after he was convicted of corruption charges.

The judge ruled he could remain free pending an appeal.

Lula has rejected claims that he received an apartment as a bribe in a corruption scandal linked to state oil company petrobras.

He says the trial is politically motivated and has strongly denied any wrongdoing. The case is the first of five charges against him.