Fernando Collor de Mello, former president of Brazil, is sentenced to more than 8 years in prison for corruption

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The former president of Brazil Fernando Collor de Mello was convicted this Wednesday for the Supreme Court eight years and ten months’ imprisonment for corruptionin an investigation derived from the mega-cause Lava Jato.

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Mello color, 73 years old and first president between 1990 and 1992, was found guilty of receiving 20 million reais between 2010 and 2014 (approximately $4 millionat the current exchange rate) when I was a senatorto “deregister contracts” between a construction company and a former Petrobras affiliate.

With vote of 8 to 2, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) had convicted Collor of corruption and money laundering crimes. This Wednesday, the magistrates they passed the sentence.

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“The overall sentence is set at eight years and ten months” of imprisonment, announced the president of the Stf, Rosa Weber, at the end of the trial.

Although the Judge Rapporteur for the case, Edson Fachin, he had suggested a sentence of up to 33 years in prisonthe Court as a whole reduced this length of sentence.

The facts “proven” in the trial are “very serious” and “depict the disastrous misuse of public functions for personal and patrimonial promotion”, Fachin said on the final day of the trial.

Fernando Collor de Mello was sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption in Brazil.  photo by AFP

Fernando Collor de Mello was sentenced to eight years in prison for corruption in Brazil. photo by AFP

In his vote, Fachin felt that “the then-senator used party-political influence to promote dating on the board of directors of (Petrobras subsidiary) BR Distribuidora and create structures for the conclusion of contracts”.

The investigation fell under the aegis of mega cause Lava Jato, which has splashed the entire Brazilian political class since 2014.

Money laundering was done through more than 40 deposits in Collor’s name and in 65 company accounts owned by him.

His defense denies the allegations.

Fernando Collor de Mello, the president who resigned in 1992 over corruption charges

the color was the first president elected by universal suffrageafter the military regime (1964-1985), defeating Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in the second round with 52% to 47% of the vote.

Fernando Collor de Mello and Lula da Silva in the 1990 presidential debate. AP file photo

Fernando Collor de Mello and Lula da Silva in the 1990 presidential debate. AP file photo

Two years after taking office, he resigned from the presidency between allegations of diversion and corruption. She left his position just before the impeachment process against him opened in Congress took place.

Subsequently, he was sued in the ordinary courts of receiving stolen goods bribes in exchange for contractual benefits with advertising companies during his rule, but was acquitted of the charges, due to lack of evidence.

Result return to politics in 2006, be elected senator for Alagoas, a poor state in the northeast. He held that seat through the end of 2022.

In the last few years, Collor was close to Jair Bolsonarowhich he campaigned for in 2022, against Lula da Silva.

Fernando Collor de Mello was relieved of the Brazilian presidency due to corruption allegations and an impeachment process opened by Congress.  Photo AP Folha Imagem, Lula Marques

Fernando Collor de Mello was relieved of the Brazilian presidency due to corruption allegations and an impeachment process opened by Congress. Photo AP Folha Imagem, Lula Marques

He is currently a member of the Brazilian Labor Party (PTB), on the centre-right of the political spectrum in that country.

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Source: Clarin

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