The analysis to maintain the conviction of former president Fernando Collor de Mello was paralyzed at the Federal Supreme Court (STF) after a prominent request from minister André Mendonça. With the magistrate’s request, the trial of Collor’s defense appeals, which was taking place in the Court’s virtual system, will move to the physical plenary.
The decision came after the Supreme Court had already formed a majority to uphold Collor’s convictions as a result of charges linked to Operation Lava a Jato. The former senator was sentenced, in 2023, to 8 years and 10 months in prison in a closed regime for the crimes of corruption and money laundering. Collor has not yet started serving his sentence as he is awaiting judgment on his appeals at the STF.
With Mendonça’s request, the trial will restart and the ministers will have to present their votes again. Therefore, ministers can still change the positions adopted virtually previously. The previous score was 6 to 2 to reject the appeals and maintain the former president’s convictions.
Ministers Alexandre de Moraes, Edson Fachin, Flávio Dino, Cármen Lúcia, Luís Roberto Barroso and Luiz Fux voted in favor of maintaining the sentence. Ministers Dias Toffoli and Gilmar Mendes voted to reduce Collor’s sentence. Minister Cristiano Zanin declared himself unable to judge the case.
Lava Jato
Collor’s conviction took place within the scope of a process that is an offshoot of Lava Jato. The former president is accused of receiving bribes in a hiring scheme involving BR Distribuidora, a former Petrobras subsidiary.
Fernando Collor was convicted in 2023 and found guilty of receiving R$20 million in bribes from UTC Engenharia to direct BR Distribuidora contracts. The investigation began focusing on suspicions of corruption at Petrobras and later reached other state-owned companies.
According to the Attorney General’s Office (PGR), Collor would have used his political influence as a senator to appoint allies to senior positions at the distributor with the intention of facilitating the targeting of contracts.
