Brazil top-court panel majority rejects Bolsonaro’s prison sentence appeal

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro leaves the hospital where he went to undergo a skin surgery procedure, authorized by Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, leaving the house arrest after being convicted by a Supreme Court majority of plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election, in Brasilia,… Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab Read more

BRASILIA, Nov 7 (Reuters) – A majority of judges on a panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court voted on Friday to reject former President Jair Bolsonaro’s appeal challenging his 27-year prison sentence for plotting a coup to remain in power after the 2022 presidential election.

Justices Flavio Dino, Alexandre de Moraes and Cristiano Zanin voted to reject the appeal filed by Bolsonaro’s lawyers. The remaining panel member has until November 14 to cast a vote. The panel has five seats, but one has been open since late October.

Lawyers for Bolsonaro, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and will only begin serving his sentence once all appeals are exhausted, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the panel majority.

FORMER PRESIDENT UNDER HOUSE ARREST

Bolsonaro has been under house arrest for about three months for violating precautionary measures in a separate case. His lawyers are expected to request that he be allowed to serve his sentence under similar conditions due to health concerns.

In September, four of the five judges on the Supreme Court panel voted to sentence Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison for five crimes, including participating in an armed criminal organization, attempting to violently abolish democracy, and organizing a coup.

Typically, defendants sentenced by Brazil’s Supreme Court need at least two justices to diverge on the ruling to request an appeal that could significantly change the decision.

With only one judge dissenting, Bolsonaro’s lawyers filed a lesser motion, requiring clarification or review of specific parts of the conviction, including a reduction in prison time.

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