MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Brazil's STF reaches majority to convict Congresswoman Zambelli

Zambelli also has another case before the STF

Brazil's Federal Supreme Court (STF) has a majority vote to sentence Congresswoman Carla Zambelli to 10 years in prison for hacking the National Council of Justice's (CNJ) electronic system in 2023. Case rapporteur Alexandre De Moraes, along with Justices Flávio Dino and Cristiano Zanin, have voted in favor of conviction, while Luiz Fux and Cármen Lúcia -completing the Court's First Panel- have yet to cast their opinions.

Dino and Zanin have also concurred with De Moraes on stripping Zambelli of her congressional mandate after the end of all possible appeals.

According to the Attorney General's Office (PGR), Zambelli was the mastermind behind the hack to issue a false arrest warrant against Minister Alexandre de Moraes. Investigators found that the hacking was carried out by Walter Delgatti, who is a confessed defendant, who has been handed down a prison sentence of 8 years and 3 months in prison in addition to making him pay R$ 2 million (around US$ 347.328 at the current exchange rate) for collective moral damages. That amount includes money to be paid by Zambelli, Agencia Brasil explained.

Zambelli's defense contested that a virtual trial was held to convict her and considered it “absolutely unfair” that the MP should be condemned “without irrefutable evidence.”

“It is absolutely unfair that the deputy was tried and convicted without irrefutable and undeniable evidence, especially for facts that she was unaware of, such as, for example, the false permits that the mythomaniac Walter [Delgatti] made for his cousin and third parties. It should be noted that we will never stop believing in justice, and we hope that one of the justices will be able to ask for a review and examine all the arguments put forward by the defense and, in the future, change the course suggested by the rapporteur,” the lawyers said.

Zambelli is also under trial by the STF since August 2023 for pulling a firearm on journalist Luan Araújo on the eve of the 2022 elections runoff following a rally in São Paulo. So far, the STF has voted 5-0 to sentence her to 5 years and 3 months in prison on a semi-open regime. However, a request by Justice Nunes Marques for a rehearing postponed the trial's conclusion. (Source: Agencia Brasil)