Bolsonaro gets 27-year sentence for takeover plan

Jair Bolsonaro, the ex-president of Brazil who is now 70, has been convicted to 27 years and three months’ imprisonment and held liable for planning an army takeover, the BBC reported.

The country’s Supreme Court, a panel consisting of five justices, ruled Bolsonaro guilty of organizing a conspiracy to retain power following his loss in the 2022 election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. One justice voted to exonerate the ex-president. He was found guilty of five charges, all relating to the 2022 loss. According to Reuters, these were participating in an armed criminal organization; attempting to violently abolish democracy; organizing a coup; and damaging government property and protected cultural assets.

The outlet noted that Bolsonaro did not attend this trial phase in person. He had been under house arrest due to concerns that he might flee.

The ex-president’s lawyers described the sentence as excessive and stated they would appeal.