Report Bolsonaro Convicted in Brazil Coup Plot Scandal

[webfact]

Picture courtesy of Jota | Ton Molina/STF

 

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been found guilty of orchestrating a military coup. Brazil's Supreme Court convicted him after achieving the necessary majority, with three judges condemning him and one voting to acquit. The 70-year-old faced charges for attempting to stay in power after losing the 2022 election to left-wing rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which led to the storming of government buildings by Bolsonaro’s supporters on 8 January 2023.

 

The court found Bolsonaro guilty of multiple charges, including trying to stage a coup, leading an armed organisation, and attempting to violently disrupt Brazil's democracy. Justice Cármen Lúcia’s decisive vote held Bolsonaro responsible for inciting the events of January 8, when his followers vandalised key government sites. His actions could result in a prison sentence of over 40 years, with a set sentencing date of Friday.

 

Bolsonaro consistently denies any wrongdoing, labelling the trial a "witch hunt" driven by political motives. The legal team plans to appeal the convictions, especially since one judge has yet to announce their verdict. If another justice votes ‘not guilty’, Bolsonaro’s lawyers may push for a review by the full Supreme Court panel of 11 justices.

 

Though absent from the courtroom, citing health concerns, Bolsonaro remains under house arrest due to previous allegations of interfering with the trial. The defence team argued that the defendant's health issues stem from a stabbing that occurred during the 2018 campaign trail. The proceedings reveal Bolsonaro's prolonged campaign to maintain leadership, which involved alleged plans to undermine the electoral process and threats against opponents.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Bolsonaro found guilty of plotting a military coup by Brazil’s Supreme Court.
• Convictions could lead to a prison sentence exceeding 40 years.
• Bolsonaro denies charges, with appeals anticipated pending final votes.

Related Stories:

 

Read more World News stories HERE

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-09-12

 

 

[dinsdale]

Political conviction. 27 years and three months jail. 3 out of 5 judges convicted so not a majority and an appeal will be launched. Brazil will explode over this. Trump won't be happy. 

[Tug]

6 minutes ago, dinsdale said:

Political conviction. 27 years and three months jail. 3 out of 5 judges convicted so not a majority and an appeal will be launched. Brazil will explode over this. Trump won't be happy. 

It’s wonderful to see a democracy’s laws upheld within their constitutional bounds.Im sure the felon will be displeased that his fellow traitor to democracy was held accountable.

[Andrew Dwyer]

A little jail time is a bit irrelevant in today’s political climate, as the history of current Brazilian President shows:

 

In July 2017, Lula was convicted on charges of money laundering and corruption in the Operation Car Washcontext, after which he spent a total of 580 days in prison. He attempted to run in the 2018 Brazilian presidential election, but was disqualified under Brazil's Ficha Limpa law. He was convicted again in February 2019, and was released from prison the following November. His two convictions were nullified in 2021 by the Supreme Federal Court, in a ruling which also found serious biases in the first case against him, also annulling all other pending cases. Once legally allowed to make another run for the presidency, Lula did so in the 2022 election and ultimately defeated the incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in a runoff. Sworn in on 1 January 2023 at the age of 77, he became the oldest Brazilian president at time of inauguration, as well as the first-ever Brazilian individual to have defeated an incumbent president and to be elected to a third term.

[impulse]

Wait...  People go to jail for fomenting a coup?

 

Pelosi and Harris should take note.