Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court has convicted former President Jair Bolsonaro of attempting to abolish the democratic state, leading an armed criminal organization and other crimes tied to a failed coup plot after his 2022 election defeat. The court’s First Panel sentenced him to 27 years and three months in prison, to be served initially in a closed regime.
A majority of justices reportedly rejected defense challenges and found Bolsonaro guilty of working with top aides and former ministers to undermine democratic institutions. Bolsonaro, who denies wrongdoing, was named the OCCRP’s 2020 Person of the Year for his role in promoting organized crime and corruption.
