Brazil Supreme Court delays decision on Lula imprisonment

BRASÍLIA: Brazil's top court decided Thursday to defer until April 4 a decision on whether ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva should face jail if he loses an appeal next week.

The Federal Supreme Court, sitting in the capital Brasilia, decided to adjourn its session for two weeks, meaning the leftist former president cannot be jailed before then.

A court in Porto Alegre is to give its verdict on Monday on Lula's appeal against a 12-year jail sentence for money laundering and corruption.

But Federal Supreme Court was expected to rule Thursday whether losing Monday's appeal would automatically mean Lula's immediate arrest and incarceration.