The TJ-SP (São Paulo Court of Justice) ordered the arrest of journalist Luan Araújo, who was persecuted by armed former deputy Carla Zambelli on the eve of the 2022 elections. The determination, which was published on June 1st, but only became public this Friday (5), is not directly related to the persecution.
Luan Araújo had been convicted of defamation against Zambelli for having published a text criticizing the then deputy after the persecution. In the post, Araújo stated, for example, that Zambelli was part of a “sect of extreme right-wing patients who follow her unconditionally and continue committing atrocities”. Such a sect would be composed of “merchants of death”, wrote the journalist.
Prosecuted by the then parliamentarian, Araújo was acquitted of the crime of insult, but ended up being sentenced to pay compensation for defamation. In current values, plus fines and procedural costs, the unpaid amount is just over R$2,200.
In his decision, judge José Fernando Steinberg wrote: “In effect, considering that the convicted person, despite being duly summoned, did not comply with the monetary benefit imposed, under the terms of article 44, paragraph 4, of the Penal Code, I convert the sentence restricting rights into a sentence depriving liberty, along the lines of the sentence handed down.”
After the arrest order, the journalist published a note on his social networks in which he stated that he considered the fine “unfair” and that he was “less vocal than he could have been” regarding the situation involving Zambelli.
“Psychological problems, unemployment, lack of opportunities, a conviction in court for a text I wrote, where the justice system wants me to pay money that I don’t have to pay for a sentence that I consider unfair,” he wrote.
Continues after advertising
He also released a fundraiser asking for help to fund a moral damages lawsuit against the former deputy. By the time the report was published, he had raised R$34,465.00 of a goal of R$35,000.
Luan Araújo’s lawyer, Renan Bohus, told Agência Pública that the court’s decision “causes surprise” and that the journalist has “proven economic incapacity”. He also stated that he filed a request for habeas corpus, arguing that “poverty cannot be a reason for incarceration”.
Zambelli was convicted of the persecution
Days before the second round of the 2022 presidential election, Zambelli and Araújo were involved in a fight that culminated in the then-deputy taking out a revolver and chasing the journalist through the streets of São Paulo and inside a cafeteria. The action was recorded by passersby and the case received great national attention.
In August last year, the Federal Supreme Court (STF) sentenced Zambelli to 5 years and 3 months in prison due to the episode. She was found guilty of the crimes of illegal possession of a firearm and illegal restraint using a firearm.
Zambelli, however, had already gone to Italy in July, to escape from prison to serve a previous sentence of 10 years in prison, which he was sentenced for masterminding an invasion of the electronic system of the National Council of Justice (CNJ).
Brazil requested Zambelli’s extradition, which was granted by the first instances of Italian justice, but ended up being revoked in May by the Court of Appeal in Rome.
Continues after advertising
*With information from Agência Brasil.
