MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Most of Brazil's STF justices vote to convict former President Collor

Six judges have already voted in favor of sentencing Collor to over 33 years in jail

A majority of Supreme Federal Court (STF) justices voted Thursday for the conviction of former senator and former president Fernando Collor for passive corruption and money laundering in a case of Operation Lava Jato, Agencia Brasil reported. So far, the score is 6 to 1 for conviction. After voting Thursday, the session was adjourned and will resume on May 24.

Case rapporteur Edson Fachin cast his vote Wednesday in favor of sentencing Collor, also a former Senator, to 33 years and 10 months in prison. Two former advisers may also be convicted in the case.

In Fachin's view, Collor was responsible for political appointments to BR Distribuidora, a subsidiary of Petrobras, and received R$ 20 million as consideration for facilitating the hiring of UTC Engineering.

Joining Fachin's vote were Justices Alexandre De Moraes, André Mendonça, Luís Roberto Barroso, Luiz Fux, and Cármen Lúcia. Collor's sentence is yet to be defined.

The Court is judging a criminal action opened in August 2017. According to the Attorney General's Office (PGR), the former president allegedly received at least R$ 20 million in bribes for political influence on BR Distribuidora. The crimes allegedly occurred between 2010 and 2014.

Justice Nunes Marques voted for Collor's acquittal. For Marques, it was not proven that he has benefited from deviations in BR Distribuidora. “In the absence of external elements in the record suitable to corroborate the statements made by collaborators, there is no way to consider the accusatory thesis that there would have been the negotiation of the sale of political support for the appointment and maintenance of leaders in BR Distribuidora,” he said.

During the trial, attorney Marcelo Bessa asked for Collor's acquittal. The defense argued that the accusations of the PGR were based on whistleblower testimony and no evidence was presented to incriminate the former senator.

Bessa also denied that the former congressman was responsible for the appointment of directors of the company. According to him, the whistleblowers accused Collor based on hearsay. “There is no suitable evidence to support this version of the prosecution. We have here a version put forward, only and exclusively, by cooperators, who do not say that the collection of these values would have to do with Collor or with supposed intermediation of this contract of flagging,” he added.

(Source: Agencia Brasil)