2023-09-15 02:21:51
The Federal Supreme Court of Brazil has started the trial of the first four accused of vandalism and attempted coup d’état on January 8th. The defendants are accused of coup d’état, illicit association, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, qualified damages and destruction of public property.
The series of trials begins with the first four defendants, who face cumulative sentences of up to 30 years in prison. In total, 1,390 people will be responsible for the invasion, on January 8, of the headquarters of the Presidency, Congress and the Federal Supreme Court itself, where the trials are taking place, in Brasília. Of these, 232 are responsible for the most serious crimes, while the remaining – more than 1,000 – must face fines and alternative sentences to jail.
The defendants, who began to be heard yesterday, are accused of coup d’état, illicit association, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, qualified damages and destruction of public property. All were identified as supporters of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who did not recognize the result of the October 2022 elections, won by Lula da Silva.
The January 8 invasion began after far-right militants and Bolsonaro supporters called for a protest at the Esplanada dos Ministérios to try to overthrow the new government that had taken office a week earlier. At the time, the images aroused condemnation from the international community and were compared to the attack on the Capitol, in the United States, by supporters of Donald Trump who did not recognize his defeat.
Justice is also investigating former President Jair Bolsonaro to clarify whether he participated in instigating the attacks, after he was sentenced to eight years of ineligibility for disclosing false information about the electoral system before the presidential vote. The processes also seek to identify alleged financiers of the attacks and determine responsibilities within the army and police themselves. Last month, for example, seven members of the Brasília police were arrested for “omission” and the Prosecutor’s Office speaks of “deep ideological contamination” within the forces of order.
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