Original article: Del cuartel a la cárcel en Brasil: condenan a militares por planear el asesinato de Lula
The Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) concluded a landmark trial on Tuesday that reveals the intricacies of a coup conspiracy: six military members were convicted for planning the assassination of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and STF Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The defendants faced accusations of five serious crimes: attempted violent abolition of Brazil’s democratic rule, attempted coup d’état, participation in an organized armed criminal group, qualified damage, and deterioration of public property.
The sentences, unanimously handed down by the First Panel of the STF, range from 1 to 24 years in prison, setting a significant judicial precedent in the South American nation.
According to the prosecution’s investigation, those convicted—comprising colonels and lieutenant colonels from the Army and a Federal Police agent—were part of a tactical core known as «kids pretos,» identified as the group responsible for executing the most severe and violent actions of the coup conspiracy pushed by former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), who was sentenced in September to 27 years and three months in prison for five crimes, including participating in an armed criminal organization, violently attempting to abolish democracy, and planning a coup.
This conspiracy sought to obstruct the inauguration of the current president, the progressive Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who defeated Bolsonaro in the October 2022 elections.
The operation included the assault on the headquarters of the three branches of government that took place on January 8, 2023, when thousands of far-right activists attempted to compel the Armed Forces to overthrow Lula, who had assumed office just a week prior.
The prosecution revealed that the coup plot also included plans to murder Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who was viewed by Bolsonaro and his circle as a strategic priority. However, these crimes were not carried out due to a lack of support from high military officials.
Countdown to Bolsonaro’s Imprisonment
Additionally, the STF has issued a ruling rejecting appeals filed by former president Jair Bolsonaro and six others charged, activating the timeline for executing his sentence for participation in the coup attempt and other crimes.
Following this ruling, Bolsonaro’s 27-year and 3-month prison sentence becomes final, with expectations of him being incarcerated in the last week of November. The former president, 70, has been under house arrest since August for violating precautionary measures in a separate case.
The far-right leader will likely be moved to a common prison unless alternative confinement arrangements are negotiated, considering his age and health conditions.
As reported by TeleSUR, following the official announcement of the ruling against the appeals, the defense for the seven defendants has a five-day window, ending Sunday, November 23, to submit «declaration embargoes,» a legal tool intended to clarify points of the ruling.
However, Justice Alexandre de Moraes has the authority to review the request or dismiss it if he believes its sole purpose is to delay the sentence.
Should Moraes agree to review the embargoes, the attorneys will have ten days from Wednesday, November 19, to make their formal submissions.
The defendants’ legal team may also pursue other delaying tactics, including filing «embargoes for infringement» or appeals regarding the proceedings, with acceptance depending on the judge.
Given this scenario, the final deadlines are expected to close in December.
