BRASILIA (AFP) ― Brazil’s supreme court Monday capped the country’s biggest trial for political corruption, sentencing an ex-chief of staff under then president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to nearly 11 years in prison for his role in a vote-buying scheme.

Jose Dirceu, who was the chief of staff from 2003-2005 and a top leader of the ruling Workers’ Party, was found guilty in October of running the operation to bribe lawmakers during Lula’s first term.

On Monday, the court sentenced the 66-year-old lawyer to 10 years and 10 months in prison for corruption and conspiracy, and fined him $350,000.

“The responsibility of the accused is extremely high,” said Justice Joaquim Barbosa, speaking for the court.

“He used his positions of leadership and prominence, both in the Workers’ Party and the federal government,” to engage in crimes of corruption, he said.

Dirceu ― one of the main defendants in the massive corruption trial that has seen 25 people convicted ― is alleged to have diverted public funds to pay lawmakers in the ruling coalition to vote in favor of government initiatives.

Lula, Brazil’s popular president from 2003 through 2010, has steadfastly denied being aware of the vote-buying scheme and was not prosecuted.

The vote-buying scandal nearly cost Lula his re-election in 2006. But the 67-year-old founder and leader of the leftist PT was cleared.

Following his re-election, Lula handed over power to his protegee and fellow PT member Dilma Rousseff at the end of his second four-year term. He later underwent successful treatment for cancer.

Last week, six opposition lawmakers urged prosecutors to probe Lula over his alleged role in the congressional vote-buying scheme.

Roberto Freire, head of the Socialist People’s Party, said he led the call for a probe after the weekly Veja published testimony by convicted businessman Marco Valerio linking the popular Lula to the plot.

In late October, Valerio was sentenced to 40 years in prison for corruption, embezzlement, money laundering and other charges. He also was slapped with a $1.4 million fine.

Jose Genoino, who headed the ruling Workers’ Party at the time, and party treasurer Delubio Soares have also been convicted.