Sao Paulo (AP) – The former President of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, has ultimately testified before the nation’s Supreme Court regarding suspected plots to maintain power that aim to overturn the 2022 election results.
After Bolsonaro and 33 of his associates were charged with five counts in February related to efforts to cling to power, Brazil’s top court’s five-member committee initiated the first trial of eight individuals, including the former president.
The judge will hear from 26 additional defendants in the coming months.
The former president has consistently denied the allegations and claims he is being targeted for political persecution, exhibiting a gentler tone in his testimony on Tuesday.
This legal action stems from the riots that erupted on January 8, 2023, when thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked the Supreme Court, Congress, and the Presidential Palace in Brasilia. Authorities labeled the insurrection as being incited by the current President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva, which led to military intervention and an attempt to oust the new president.
If found guilty of plotting a coup, Bolsonaro could face up to 12 years in prison. With combined charges, he might endure decades of incarceration.
The case may continue even after the panel’s conviction, as Bolsonaro retains the right to appeal to the full Supreme Court of Brazil.
Here’s an overview of the trial process:
Testimony
The testimony of the eight defendants is nearing the conclusion of the evidence collection phase, but their attorneys have the option to request additional investigations to support their case. Legal analysts believe this is improbable unless Judge Alexandre de Moraes and the panel members approve such requests. Once De Moraes rules on all submissions, the evidence phase will be considered complete.
Final Claim
Fifteen days after the evidence collection phase concludes, the Brazilian Attorney General will be authorized to present his final claim. Likewise, the defendants’ lawyers will have the opportunity to do the same. These presentations are anticipated to last hours or days respectively. This process must be finalized by July, coinciding with the Brazilian Supreme Court’s recess until August. The sentencing phase will commence immediately following the conclusion of the final claim phase.
Judgment
The Supreme Court panel of five judges will determine the guilt of Bolsonaro and his associates. Judges De Moraes and Carmen Lucia will evaluate the fate of the former Brazilian president, alongside Cristiano Zanin, Flávio Dino, and Lewis Fuchs. They have all engaged in public disputes with Bolsonaro. De Moraes has presided over numerous cases against far-right leaders, while Zanin and Dino joined the court as appointees of Lula. Lucia and Fuchs have also been targets of Bolsonaro throughout their respective leaderships in the electoral and supreme courts. Should Bolsonaro be found guilty, these judges will likewise decide on his sentencing.
What If He Is Found Guilty
Bolsonaro still retains the right to appeal to the full panel of the Brazilian Supreme Court. Top prosecutors in Brazil may also appeal if the former president is not convicted on all counts. Before any potential prison sentence, Bolsonaro’s lawyers could further delay the trial’s conclusion by challenging each judge’s decision. Legal experts anticipate that all these steps may conclude by the end of the year.
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Source: apnews.com