Brazil Supreme Court upholds prison sentence for ex-president de Mello
2 Min Read
The order of his arrest comes after rejecting his appeal over his corruption case.
-
Brazil's Former President Fernando Collor de Mello walks after speaking during the impeachment trial of Brazil's suspended President Dilma Rousseff in Senate chambers, in Brasilia, Brazil, on Tuesday, August 30, 2016. (AP)
The Brazilian Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by former president Fernando Collor de Mello, reinstating his prison sentence of eight years and ten months over charges of corruption and money laundering.
Collor de Mello, Brazil’s first democratically elected president, was forced to resign in 1992 amid impeachment proceedings for alleged bribery. Despite his resignation, he later returned to politics and served as a senator.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes dismissed Collor de Mello’s final appeal, ordering his immediate arrest. The court confirmed the decision in a statement on Thursday, while a final vote by the full Supreme Court is scheduled for Friday.
The 75-year-old was convicted in 2023 for receiving 20 million reais (approximately 3.5 million US dollars in today's exchange rate) in bribes between 2010 and 2014 during his tenure as a senator. His case has reignited debates over corruption in Brazilian politics.
De Mello is not the first President of Brazil to face legal challenges, as former President Jair Bolsonaro, along with several of his close allies, were recently brought to trial in connection with the unsuccessful coup attempt that took place in 2022.
Bolsonaro to stand trial over alleged coup and plot against Lula
Bolsonaro is set to stand trial for allegedly orchestrating a coup attempt following his 2022 election defeat, as confirmed by the Brazilian Supreme Court on March 26.
A five-judge panel ruled unanimously that there is enough evidence to prosecute Bolsonaro and several close allies. The charges include attempting a coup d’état, participation in an armed criminal organization, and using violence to undermine the country’s democratic system.
Bolsonaro was officially charged in February in connection with the failed coup plot, which also involved accusations of conspiring to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
The Supreme Court has also ruled that seven of Bolsonaro’s associates must face trial on related charges.
Bolsonaro, commenting on the case, accused the judiciary of attempting to derail his 2026 presidential ambitions, noting that the trial is advancing far faster than previous high-profile corruption cases in Brazil.
