Brazilian court orders to 942 in prison for capital riots
Brasilia, Jan 20 (EFE).- The Supreme Court of Brazil ordered the preventive detention for an indefinite period to 942 of the 1,406 followers of former President Jair Bolsonaro arrested for storming government buildings on Jan.8, the court said Friday.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes concluded the analysis of the custody hearings of the detainees, who will be kept on preventive custody for an unspecified amount of time.
Another 464 people were let off on bail with precautionary measures, but subject to several conditions, including the use of electronic ankle support to be monitored and weekly appearance before the authorities.
According to the judge, their conduct was illegal and serious, with the intention of, through violence and serious threat, preventing the exercise of the constitutional powers.
He said there was evidence of the effective participation of those investigated in a criminal organization that acted to try to destabilize the republican institutions.
De Moraes stressed those involved were in preventive detention for participating in “acts of terrorism” and “destruction of public property” and will be held accountable for the crimes of “criminal association, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law and coup d’état.”
They were also charged with “threat, persecution and incitement to crime,” according to a statement from the Supreme Federal Court (STF).
On Jan.8, following the defeat of former President Jair Bolsonaro, thousands of his right-wing followers stormed government buildings, including the Congress, the Supreme Court and the presidential palace.
The Bolsonaro supporters, who had been camped for more than two months at the gates of the barracks of the main capitals, were calling for a military intervention to overthrow current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who won the elections on Oct.30.
Another 684 people, according to the Federal Police, were released on “humanitarian grounds” for being senior citizens, sick or women with children, but their names were also included in the investigations. EFE
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