The court tried three key figures in the coup plot and decided to accept the Attorney General’s complaint against former President Jair Bolsonaro and 20 other defendants.
The justice will hear the complaint filed by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office against military personnel accused of participating in the plot, which, according to the Federal Police, was responsible for “tactical and coercive actions” and comprised agents who allegedly aligned themselves with the coup attempt, involving the surveillance, kidnapping, and even to murder President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Judge De Moraes.
The defendants were divided into five groups based on their involvement in the plot and their alleged culpability according to the allegations: one (main group), two (preparation), and four (disinformation).
At the end of March, the First Chamber unanimously decided to open criminal proceedings against the eight members of the main group, including President Bolsonaro; reserve general and former minister Walter Braga Netto; Bolsonaro’s former deputy, Mauro Cid; and former head of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, Alexandre Ramagem.
Group two was tried on April 29th and 30th. The ministers accepted the complaint against its six members for organizing actions to “support Bolsonaro’s illegitimate permanence” in power in 2022.
The panel unanimously decided on Tuesday to charge the members of group four, who, according to the Attorney General’s Office, organized disinformation campaigns to spread false news about the elections and carry out virtual attacks against institutions and authorities.
The defendants will face charges of armed criminal organization, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup d’état, serious damage to the property of the Union, and damage to classified assets.
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