Jair Bolsonaro, former Brazilian president, sentenced to 27 years in prison for coup attempt after election defeat

"Four of the five justices reviewing the case in the panel found the far-right politician guilty on five counts, in a ruling that will deepen political divisions and was expected to prompt a backlash from the U.S. government. It makes Bolsonaro is the first former Brazilian president to be convicted of attempting a coup. The five counts are: attempting a coup after losing the 2022 race to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in a plot that prosecutors alleged included plans to kill Lula;"

"Bolsonaro's co-conspirators, all of them former Brazilian officials, were also sentenced for their roles in the attempted coup. Gen. Braga Netto, Bolsonaro's former defense minister and running mate in 2022, received 26 years. Admiral Almir Garnier got 24 years. Gen. Augusto Heleno received 21 years and Gen. Paulo Sérgio Nogueira got 19 years. Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, who cooperated with investigations, was given two years under an open regime."

"Chief Justice Luís Roberto Barroso joined the panel at the end of the session and called the trial a "watershed moment in Brazil's history." The U.S. government immediately criticized the ruling and warned it would respond. U.S. President Donald Trump said he was "very unhappy" with the conviction. Speaking to reporters as he departed the White House, he said he'd always found Bolsonaro to be "outstanding." nd later, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on his X account that Trump's government "will respond accordingly to this witch hunt.""

Jair Bolsonaro was convicted by a panel of Brazil's supreme court on five counts related to an attempted coup after losing the 2022 election. The counts include attempting a coup, participating in an armed criminal organization, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, damage qualified by violence, and deterioration of listed heritage. Several former officials were sentenced to lengthy prison terms, including Gen. Braga Netto (26 years) and Admiral Almir Garnier (24 years). Bolsonaro is under house arrest in Brasilia and may appeal the ruling. The U.S. government criticized the conviction and indicated it would respond.

Read at Irish Independent