SAO PAULO — Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has rejected exercising his right to semi-open prison conditions after spending a year and a half in a cell.

Prosecutors who led the corruption case against the Brazilian politician requested last week that he now be given more flexible conditions, which could include house arrest.

But da Silva ruled that possibility out in a letter published on his website Monday, saying he wants to leave imprisonment with a decision of Brazil’s top court on his case.

The man who governed Brazil from 2003 to 2010 has imprisoned since April 2018 after being convicted of corruption and money laundering.

Da Silva’s suit in Brazil’s Supreme Court argues that the judge in the case, current Justice Minister Sergio Moro, was biased against him.

The Associated Press