Rio de Janeiro, Sept 14, (dpa/GNA) – After former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison for attempting a coup, his defence team has vowed to appeal.
He was found guilty of plotting a coup with military officials and allies against the government of his left-wing successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, following his 2022 election defeat.
The sentence was handed down by the country’s Supreme Federal Court (STF), after four of the five judges voted in favour of his conviction.
However, the defence condemned what it called the “absurdly excessive and disproportionate penalties” and said it would exhaust all legal remedies, including at the international level.
Bolsonaro’s son Eduardo, described the judges as “corrupt” and spoke of a “war” that was not yet over.
The prosecution said Bolsonaro had planned to impose a state of emergency and call new elections, but was unable to win the support of the military leadership.
The verdict, makes the 70-year-old the first former Brazilian president, to be convicted of attempting a coup after leaving office.
Since further legal remedies are still possible before the Supreme Court, the prison sentence will not be enforced immediately. However, experts say a challenge to the verdict is unlikely.
Four of the five judges voted to convict Bolsonaro, with only Judge Luiz Fux voting for acquittal, arguing that the evidence did not provide grounds for the charge of attempted coup.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers on the other hand, responded to the verdict with sharp criticism. “The defence team for former president Jair Bolsonaro acknowledges the decision with respect, but cannot help but express deep disapproval and outrage at the majority decision,” they said, according to G1 news site.
Bolsonaro never acted against the democratic state, did not participate in any plan, and had nothing to do with the events of January 8, they said.
With the case being heard before the Supreme Court, there is no higher instance in the country, though there are options within the court.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers can challenge formal ambiguities in the ruling, but major changes to its content are unlikely.
After that, another appeal would theoretically be possible, requesting a re-examination of individual points of contention in the plenary session with 11 judges.
legal specialists say this is unlikely, as it would have required at least two dissenting votes.
Only once this is decided, will the ruling become final and enforceable.
GNA