Brasilia, Aug 11 (IANS): An investigation into former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has been reopened by prosecutors.

The investigation was first launched in 2013, after a publicist Marcos Valerio confessed that he operated a scheme where companies could buy political favours during
Lula's first-term government. Valerio was sentenced to 37 months in prison, reports Xinhua news agency.

Investigators sought to find out whether Lula, who served as President from 2003 to 2011, took part in negotiations which saw Portugal Telecom transfer $7 million to
the Workers' Party (PT) when Lula was in power.

However, at the time, the federal police was not able to track the alleged transfers by Portugal Telecom and the case was closed in 2015.

ccording to local media reports on Thursday, prosecutors have discovered new evidence recently and the case is being reopened by the prosecutor-general's office.

Prosecutor Ivan Marx will lead the investigation to see if it is now possible to prove Valerio's claims.

Lula was sentenced to 9.5 years in prison by federal judge Sergio Moro, who is overseeing investigations into the massive Petrobras corruption ring.

Lula is also being investigated on five other charges.