Former Brazil leader Bolsonaro appeals prison sentence - RTHK
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Former Brazil leader Bolsonaro appeals prison sentence

2025-10-28 HKT 08:16
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  • Lawyers for Jair Bolsonaro allege "ambiguities, omissions, contradictions and obscurities" in the court decision which found him guilty of plotting a coup. File photo: Reuters
    Lawyers for Jair Bolsonaro allege "ambiguities, omissions, contradictions and obscurities" in the court decision which found him guilty of plotting a coup. File photo: Reuters
Lawyers for former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro on Monday filed a motion asking for a review of last month's Supreme Court ruling sentencing him to more than 27 years in prison for plotting a coup to remain in power after the 2022 presidential election.

In the 85-page motion filed with the court, Bolsonaro's lawyers questioned parts of the conviction, including the length of the former president's prison time.

In September, four of the five judges of a Supreme Court panel voted to convict Bolsonaro of five crimes, including taking part in an armed criminal organisation, attempting to violently abolish democracy and organising 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 that requires clarification or reviews of specific parts of the conviction.

Bolsonaro, who has denied any wrongdoing, will only start serving time once appeals against his sentencing are exhausted.

However, he has been under house arrest since August for allegedly courting the interference of US President Donald Trump, who has raised tariffs on imports of Brazilian goods to 50 percent and sanctioned the judge overseeing the case. (Reuters)

Former Brazil leader Bolsonaro appeals prison sentence