The Brazilian Supreme Court has delivered its verdict on Thursday, sentencing the first individual to stand trial for the storming of government buildings in Brasilia on January 8th to 17 years in prison.
In a majority decision, the justices found Aecio Lucio Costa Pereira guilty. Pereira, a former employee of water utility Sabesp, was apprehended within the Senate building during the invasion. He faced a range of charges, including attempted coup d’état, participation in an armed criminal association, and causing damage to historic structures.
This trial marked the commencement of a series of proceedings involving four individuals directly linked to the incidents.
In January, supporters of the far-right former president, Jair Bolsonaro, staged an intrusion and vandalized key institutions in Brazil, including Congress, the presidential palace, and the Supreme Court. This action took place just a week after leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva assumed office, with protesters contesting his victory in the October election and advocating for a military intervention.
