Brazil’s Supreme Court to strengthen security at Bolsonaro trial

Brazil’s Supreme Court will bolster security for the trial in which former President Jair Bolsonaro, General Braga Netto, and six other individuals could face charges for their involvement in the coup plot aimed at blocking Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s third term.

In next Tuesday’s session (March 25), the Supreme Court’s First Chamber will hear the Attorney General’s complaint against the nucleus 1 of the plot, consisting of the following defendants:

·  Jair Bolsonaro – former President of Brazil

·  Walter Braga Netto – Army general, former minister, and Bolsonaro’s vice-presidential running mate in the 2022 elections

·  General Augusto Heleno – former Minister of the Institutional Security Cabinet

·  Alexandre Ramagem – former director of the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (Abin)

·  Anderson Torres – former Minister of Justice and former Secretary of Security for the Federal District

·  Almir Garnier – former commander of the Navy

·  Paulo Sérgio Nogueira – Army general and former Minister of Defense

·  Mauro Cid – whistleblower and former aide-de-camp to Bolsonaro

According to the Supreme Court, security around the court will be increased, with “emergency response teams” deployed. Access control and monitoring of the premises will also be heightened.

The security operations will be handled by the Supreme Court’s Judicial Police, with support from the Federal District’s Public Security Secretariat.

The Supreme Court stated that the measures aim to ensure the safety of civil servants, lawyers, and journalists involved in the trial.

In November of last year, the Court was targeted in a suicide attack by Francisco Wanderley Luiz, a locksmith and former candidate for city councilor with the Liberal Party in Rio do Sul (Santa Catarina) during the 2020 elections.

Trial

Bolsonaro, former ministers, military commanders, and the whistleblower will be tried by the Supreme Court’s First Panel, which includes the rapporteur of the case, Justice Alexandre de Moraes, along with Justices Flávio Dino, Cristiano Zanin, Cármen Lúcia, and Luiz Fux.