In a big move, Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of a former president. On April 24, Judge Alexandre de Moraes decided that Fernando Collor de Mello must go to jail right away. This happened after Collor tried to challenge a court ruling from last year that found him guilty of serious crimes. But Judge Moraes rejected those efforts and said the sentence must be carried out immediately.
Collor was sentenced in 2023 to eight years and ten months in prison. The court said he was guilty of taking bribes and being involved in money laundering. These are crimes where people illegally receive money and then try to hide where it came from. This decision marked a huge moment in Brazilian history, as it involved someone who was once the country’s top leader.
His lawyers were shocked by the sudden arrest order. In a short statement, they said they were surprised and concerned by the decision. Still, they made it clear that the former president will follow the court’s order and not try to avoid arrest.
The Bribery Case Explained
The charges against Collor are linked to a major investigation into corruption at Brazil’s biggest oil company. This company is partly run by the government and is called Petrobras. The case said that Collor took about 30 million reais, which is over $5 million, in bribes. The money came from a company that was working with Petrobras at the time.
This happened while Collor was working as a senator, which is a powerful role in Brazil’s Congress. The prosecutors said that the money was given in exchange for favors. These kinds of deals are illegal because they give unfair advantages to certain companies, while hurting the country and the people.
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The Supreme Court reviewed all the facts and decided last year that the evidence against him was strong. They found him guilty and gave him a prison sentence. But Collor’s lawyers tried to challenge the sentence, saying there were problems in the case. Judge Moraes disagreed with them, and this week he decided that Collor must now start serving his time.
Judge Moraes also asked that the full group of Supreme Court judges meet soon. They will look at his decision and decide whether to keep it or change it. For now, though, Collor is expected to be arrested and taken to prison.
From President to Prison
Fernando Collor has a long history in Brazilian politics. He became president in 1990. He was the first person elected by popular vote after Brazil ended its military dictatorship in 1985. That made him a symbol of the country’s return to democracy. But just two years later, he was pushed out of office.
Back in 1992, Congress impeached him after another corruption scandal. That means they removed him from office before his term was over. Later, in 1994, Brazil’s top court cleared him in that older case. Even though he left the presidency in disgrace, he still managed to return to politics. He was later elected as a senator, and he kept working in government for many years.
Now, more than 30 years after his impeachment, Collor is facing a different kind of punishment. Instead of just losing his job, he will now lose his freedom. This case has shocked many people in Brazil, showing that even powerful figures can be held responsible for crimes.
At the current exchange rate, the bribe amount involved in this case would be over $5.28 million. This number helps people understand the large scale of the corruption. Many in Brazil see this as another chapter in the country’s ongoing fight against government wrongdoing.
For now, all eyes are on the Supreme Court as they prepare to review Judge Moraes’ decision. But until then, the arrest order stands, and Fernando Collor de Mello will have to begin serving his sentence.
