Prosecutors in Brazil are filing corruption charges against one of the country's most-popular leaders, former president Inacio Lula de Silva, in a money-laundering investigation.  He denies any wrongdoing and says the charges are politically motivated.

This comes out of the investigation into corruption into the state-run oil company Petrobras.  Prosecutors wouldn't specify the complaint, but it reportedly involves undeclared assets in the form of a luxury apartment in the beachfront city of Guaruja.  Officially, it's owned by the OAS construction company which is accused of paying bribes to politicians and senior officials at Petrobras to secure lucrative contracts.  Lula says he never owned the penthouse.

Last week, police detained Lula for questioning, which angered the popular pol's supporters and made officials from across the spectrum nervous.  Lula is beloved by millions for progressive social programs that greatly reduced poverty and illiteracy while increasing access to health care and jobs.  He was President from 2003 - 2011, and succeeded by his protege Dilma Rousseff who is suffering low approval ratings because of the corruption investigation and an economic downturn.  Lula's supporters believe opponents are using the investigation to sully his image amid rumors he will run again for president in 2018.

A judge must approve the charges for the case to proceed.