Text expands punishments, covers online scams and doubles penalties in cases of public calamity; project belongs to congressman Kim Kataguiri and was sanctioned with partial veto by Lula
From this Monday (May 4, 2026) crimes of theft, theft and reception will have greater penalties. The , published in , also expands the punishment for cases of embezzlement and virtual crimes, such as internet scams. Read (PDF – 116 kB).
The text, sanctioned by (PT), establishes the following prison sentences:
- theft: from 1 to 6 years in prison (the maximum was 4 years);
- cell phone theft: from 4 to 10 (until then, they were treated as simple theft);
- theft by electronic means: up to 10 years (was 8 years);
- robbery resulting in death: minimum sentence increases from 20 to 24 years;
- embezzlement, imprisonment of 1 to 5 years plus fine;
- receiving stolen product from 2 to 6 years in prison and fine (was 1 to 4 years).
The law also deals with the penalty for interrupting telephone, telegraph or radiotelegraph services, currently imprisonment for 1 to 3 years, but imprisonment for 2 to 4 years.
The penalty will be doubled if the crime is committed during a public calamity or theft or destruction of equipment installed on telecommunications towers.
The new law, originating from , authored by the deputy (Missão-SP), marks the 1st project from the Missão party to be sanctioned. Read (PDF – 245 kB). The acronym, linked to the MBL (Movimento Brasil Livre), was on November 4, 2025.
VETO
The device approved by Congress that proposed increasing the penalty for the crime of robbery, from 7 to 18 years to 16 to 24 years in cases involving violence and serious injuries, was vetoed. In his justification, President Lula stated that the change would make the minimum penalty for this type of qualified robbery exceed the penalty stipulated for qualified homicide.
Now, senators and deputies will deliberate, in a joint session of the National Congress, on maintaining or overturning the presidential veto.
This text was originally published by , on May 4, 2026, at 9:14 am. The content is free for republication, the source is cited, and has been adapted to the standard of Poder360.
