Minister Cristiano Zanin, of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), voted to sentence Aécio Lúcio Costa Pereira, the first defendant for the coup acts of January 8, to 15 years in prison in a closed regime. Zanin was the first minister to declare his vote this Thursday (14).
With the manifestation of the most recent nominee to the Court, there are now two votes for Pereira’s imprisonment in a closed regime (Alexandre de Moraes defended 17 years) against one (from Minister Nunes Marques) who defends a milder sentence: two years in an open regime.
The trial is underway at the Supreme Court, and the next person to vote is minister André Mendonça, who, like Nunes Marques, was nominated by former president Jair Bolsonaro (PL) to join the STF. Check out the live broadcast of the vote below.
Zanin, like Moraes, considered that the defendant is guilty of the crimes of armed criminal association, violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, attempted coup d’état, qualified damage through violence and serious threat and deterioration of listed property.
“The defendant Aécio did not enter the Senate for a tour, a visit. He joined a crowd that defended, through physical and property violence, the closure of constitutionally established powers and the deposition of the democratically elected government”, stated the minister, quoted by Brazil Agency.
Zanin votes to convict defendant on January 8
The STF minister followed the understanding of the case’s rapporteur, Alexandre de Moraes, and voted to convict Aécio Lúcio Costa Pereira for five crimes. Zanin proposed a 15-year prison sentence. pic.twitter.com/63BTpkl8Y5
— Brasil de Fato (@brasildefato) September 14, 2023
Understand the charges
Aécio Pereira was arrested in the act while still on the Senate premises. The Strategic Group to Combat Anti-Democratic Acts (GCAA), of the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), pointed to the crimes and crimes of armed criminal association, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup d’état, damage qualified by violence and serious threat and deterioration of listed heritage. If added together, the sentences can reach 30 years in prison.
:: ‘When I fell to the ground, I received a blow to the head from an iron bar’, says PM attacked by Bolsonaro supporters on January 8 ::
In a statement to the Federal Police (PF), the defendant stated that he did not cause any damage to public property. In a video recorded in the Senate plenary, the defendant sent a message to his colleagues saying: “Friends of Sabesp who didn’t believe, we’re here. Those who didn’t believe, I’m also here for you, damn it. Look where I am. At the President’s table . Vilsão, Roni. We’re here, damn it. Marcelão, we’re here, damn it. It’s going to work. Don’t give up. Take to the streets. Stop the avenues. Support us.”
Editing: Nicolau Soares
