By a 4–1 vote, the First Panel of the Supreme Federal Court convicted Jair Bolsonaro to 27 years and 3 months in prison for attempted coup d’état, under the accusation of leading a plot to remain in power. It is the first time in the country’s history that a former president has been punished for this crime.
Bolsonaro was also found guilty of the crimes of armed criminal organization, abolition of the democratic rule of law, aggravated damage to public property, and deterioration of protected property.
The justices decided he will serve 24 years and 9 months of imprisonment and the remainder in detention. The initial regime for serving the sentence is to be closed.
The other seven defendants in the so-called core group of the case, all former high-ranking officials in the former president’s government, were convicted of the same criminal charges, with sentences ranging from 2 to 26 years. An 8-year ban from running for office was also applied to all the convicts.
Bolsonaro’s defense, as he is 70 years old, is expected to try to maintain house arrest on health grounds.
