VOA慢速英语2016 巴西前总统涉腐被控,举国震惊!（在线收听）

AS IT IS 2016-03-13 Brazil’s Lula Charged With Money Laundering 巴西前总统涉腐被控,举国震惊!

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the former president of Brazil, was charged this week with the crime of money laundering.

本周，巴西前总统路易斯·伊纳西奥·卢拉·达席尔瓦（Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva）被警方以洗钱等罪名起诉。

Officials say they have evidence the former president and his family benefited from an unlawful real estate deal. That deal affected thousands of Brazilian families.

知情人士称，有证据表明这位前总统及其家人在一起非法房产交易中受惠。此次事件波及到成千上万的巴西家庭。

Lead prosecutor Cassio Conserino explained families lost their apartments and lost their chances at being homeowners. Instead of apartments going to families, the real estate was destined for the former president and his family.

首席检查官卡西奥·康塞里诺（Cassio Conserino）解释称，很多人都失去了住所以及名下的房产。这些房产并没有分配给居民，而是变成这位前总统及其家人的私人房产。

He added da Silva and his family were under investigation for a year.

他补充说，一年来达席尔瓦及其家人一直在接受调查。

The prosecutors allege that da Silva and his family were given real estate.

这位检察官声称，涉案企业向达席尔瓦及其家人赠予了几处房产供其使用。

Da Silva denies any wrongdoing. He said he is not the owner of the apartment in the coastal city of Guaruja.  

达席尔瓦否认自己有任何不当行为。他声称自己并非是位于海滨城市瓜鲁雅公寓的户主。

Money laundering charges have also been brought against the former president’s wife and one of his sons. A conviction could result in a prison term of 13 years.

达席尔瓦的妻子和儿子也被指控涉嫌洗钱。如若查实，他们可能将面临13年有期徒刑。

The judge in charge of the case must decide whether to accept the charges and move forward with the case.

负责此案的法官必须决定是否接受这些控告并进一步推动这起案件。

Da Silva also faces other legal problems. There are charges and accusations that he accepted free work on his home in exchange for political favors and benefits.

此外，达席尔瓦还涉及着其它的经济问题。有指控称他涉嫌以政治上的便利作为交换条件换得免费的房屋装修。

He governed Brazil from 2003 to 2010. He left office with a record-high popularity close to 80 percent.

达席尔瓦自2003年至2010年期间执掌巴西政权，离任时他的民众支持率甚至高达80%。

Words in This Story

money laundering – v. the concealment of the origins of illegally obtained money

real estate - n. property such as buildings or land

apartment - n. a number of rooms that are part of a building and used as a place to live

destined - v. meant for

allege - v. accuse; to state without proof

conviction – n. the act of proving that a person is guilty of a crime in a court of law

favors – n. kind or helpful acts that you do for someone