RIO DE JANEIRO — Former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Wednesday testified in a corruption case against him, coming face to face for the first time with the federal judge overseeing a mammoth probe that has upended Latin America’s largest nation.

Silva’s hearing was closed to the press and not broadcast live, two of the many measures taken by Judge Sergio Moro and authorities in the southeastern city of Curitiba amid concerns of sparking violence. Authorities planned to release a recording of the hearing a few hours after it ended.

Globo News captured images of Silva arriving to the court in a black sedan with a police escort.

Thousands of supporters — both of Silva and Moro — were separated by a few miles, and hundreds of police in riot gear controlled several square blocks around the federal courthouse.

‘‘Brazil’s most popular politician in the last 30 years is going before a judge like any regular citizen,’’ said Mauricio Santoro, a political scientist at the State University of Rio de Janeiro. ‘‘That is very rare in Brazilian politics.’’

Silva, president between 2003 and 2010, was testifying about allegations that he received a beachfront apartment as a kickback from construction company OAS. Prosecutors also allege that OAS did repairs to the apartment and paid to store Silva’s belongings. The former president denies the charges, along with those related to several other cases of corruption against him.

His testimony came after several attempts by his defense team to postpone the hearing. The last appeal, to the Supreme Federal Tribunal, Brazil’s highest court, was denied about an hour before his testimony began.

Silva’s defense team argued it needed more time to analyze the case. Silva opponents counter that it was an excuse to prolong the case. The defense has also said it wants to call more than 80 witnesses.

Associated Press