Brazil's Ex-President's Suspect Coup Plotters Grilled in Court
Arrested suspects grilled about alleged conspiracy against Brazil's ex-president
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link
The drama unfolds as Brazil's Supreme Court (STF) grills eight defendants, all rumored to be conspirators in an alleged coup plot orchestrated by former President Jair Bolsonaro. The Public Prosecutor's Office hints at these individuals conspiring against the government of his successor, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, following Bolsonaro's ousting.
Just weeks post Lula's inauguration, Bolsonaro's loyalists stormed the Congress, the Supreme Court, and the Presidential Palace on January 8, 2023. Security forces struggled to regain control of the government district in Brasília, maintaining order only hours later.
As per the Public Prosecutor's Office, these defendants, tied to Bolsonaro, are believed to be at the heart of the attempted coup against the democratic system. The trial commenced with Lieutenant Colonel Mauro Cid, a trusted confidant and adjutant to Bolsonaro during his presidency. Cid is now a key witness and his testimonies heavy with implications against the right-wing ex-president. Other defendants include ex-ministers and high-ranking military personnel. While Bolsonaro himself is yet to be questioned, the exact date remains ambiguous.
The defendants face various charges, including attempted violent overthrow of the democratic order, attempted coup, participating in an armed criminal association, property damage, and damage to historical goods. The hearings are slated to continue until June 13.
According to investigations, the defendants, including Jair Bolsonaro himself, form the "crucial nucleus" of the alleged coup plot. Key figures involved in the trial include:
- Jair Bolsonaro: The ex-President of Brazil, accused of leading a "criminal enterprise" to subvert Lula da Silva's election victory in 2022. Despite his denials, he maintains that he is victimized by political persecution.
- Braga Netto: A former Defense Minister under Bolsonaro, also implicated in the plot.
- Felipe Martins: Bolsonaro's former international affairs advisor, who allegedly submitted documents proposing a coup to reverse the 2022 election results.
- Mauro Cid: A former aide-de-camp to Bolsonaro, acting as a whistleblower. He confirmed that Bolsonaro reviewed and edited a document advocating a state of siege and the arrest of Supreme Court judges.
- Six unnamed defendants: These individuals are claimed to be part of the alleged core group involved in the plot.
These individuals are being interrogated by Justice Alexandre de Moraes during the ongoing trial.
Source: ntv.de, dpa
[1] ntv.de/Politik/Ex-Präsident-Bolsonaro: Nachrichten-Thread-Leserschaltung,art-31816944 [2] dpa.de/de/news/brasilia-staatsanwalt-liegende-truppen-des-ehemaligen-brasilien-prasidenten-bolsonaro-denunziert,1701637 [3] telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/01/08/brazil-convulsed-by-mayhem-as-pro-bolsonaro-protesters-launch-fierce-attack-on-capitol [4] nytimes.com/2023/01/31/world/americas/brazil-bolsonaro-lula-infection.html [5] bbc.com/portuguese/brasil-57599726]
- The Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating the role of these individuals in the alleged coup plot, including ex-President Jair Bolsonaro, former Defense Minister Braga Netto, international affairs advisor Felipe Martins, aide-de-camp Mauro Cid, and six unnamed defendants, in the violation of Brazil's community policy and democratic system as they face charges such as attempted violent overthrow, coup, and participating in an armed criminal association.
- As the hearings for the coup plot unfold, the media is also focusing on the implications of these events on Brazil's general news, politics, and crime-and-justice sector, and the impact it might have on vocational training institutions and the overall stability of the country.
