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Brazil’s Supreme Court has found former President Jair Bolsonaro guilty of trying to carry out a military coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 election.
The court sentenced Bolsonaro to 27 years in prison for his role in the plot, as per AFP report. The case included allegations that he and his allies even planned to assassinate President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who defeated him.
Court’s Decision
Out of five justices, three voted to convict the 70-year-old former leader.
Justice Carmen Lucia, whose vote sealed the outcome on Thursday, found Bolsonaro guilty on all five charges. These included attempting to stage a coup, leading an armed criminal group, trying to violently abolish Brazil’s democratic rule of law, and causing damage to government property during the storming of official buildings.
Bolsonaro, who has denied wrongdoing, could face decades in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for Friday.
Failed Coup And Riots
The court said Bolsonaro conspired to keep himself in power after losing to Lula in 2022. His plans failed to gain enough support from the military.
The riots reached a peak on 8 January 2023, when thousands of his supporters stormed Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court, and presidential palace in Brasilia.
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