Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced on Thursday to 27 years in prison for his role in an attempted coup, following a landmark trial.
In a four-to-one decision, the Supreme Court found the ex-president (2019-2022), now 70 years old, guilty and imposed a sentence of 27 years and three months. He was identified as the leader of a “criminal organization” that conspired to maintain his “authoritarian grip on power” after losing to current leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the 2022 election.
Bolsonaro, who is ineligible for office until 2030 and has been under house arrest in Brasilia since early August on suspicions of obstructing his trial, did not attend the hearings, citing health reasons according to his defense team.
The former president was tried alongside seven of his close associates, including several former ministers and generals. His legal team is expected to file appeals, taking inspiration from the sole judge who voted for acquittal, Luiz Fux, who highlighted a lack of evidence.
