Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro aides in Brazil receive prison sentences of up to 17 years

Brazil’s Supreme Court on Tuesday sentenced seven participants in a coup attempt by supporters of former far-right President Jair Bolsonaro to prison terms of up to 17 years.

The Supreme Court sentenced Bolsonaro, 70, to 27 years in prison at the conclusion of an unprecedented trial, convicting him of conspiracy to remain in power after his defeat in the 2022 general election against incumbent leftist Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Seven former Bolsonaro aides were sentenced in the case that led to US President Donald Trump imposing punitive tariffs on Brazil, which he described as a “vicious campaign” against his former ally.

The Supreme Court will issue its ruling on 16 other defendants in this case in the coming weeks.

A federal police officer, five military personnel, and the head of an independent electoral polling institute were sentenced to prison after being convicted of contributing to digital militias in spreading false information about the electronic voting system during the 2022 elections, Judge Alexandre de Moires said.

The judge, who was in charge of Bolsonaro’s trial and is also subject to US sanctions, explained, “They fabricated and disseminated false narratives with the aim of inciting chaos and destabilizing the country, causing institutions to shut down”.

The sentences ranged from 7.5 to 17 years, as the convicts have five days to appeal the ruling from the date of its publication.

Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest and banned from using social media, is awaiting the publication of his sentence, a necessary step for his lawyers to appeal.

Once all possible appeals are exhausted, the former president could be imprisoned.