Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro Charged With Systematic Coup With 33 Other Defendants

Jair Messias Bolsonaro, who served as President of Brazil for the 2019-2022 term of service. (doc. Wikimedia Commons)

JAKARTA - Brazilian Attorney General charged former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro with alleged coup attempt after his defeat in Presidential Ownership (Pilpres) in 2022. Bolsonaro was charged with 33 other people.

Bolsonaro, 69, and his co-defendants were charged with five counts on alleged attempts to prevent Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from serving as President of Brazil based on the results of the 2022 legitimate presidential election.

"They explained, in detail, conspiracy plans were drawn up and implemented against democratic institutions," said Attorney General Paulo Gonet Branco in a hearing on the indictment agenda against Bolsonaro and other parties, Tuesday, February 18 local time, quoted by AFP, Wednesday, February 19.

Based on the statement of the Brazilian Attorney General's Office (AGO), it was stated that the indictment of the Supreme Court (MA) against the defendants was based on the manuscript, digital files, worksheets, and message exchanges that revealed schemes to disrupt the democratic order.

The statement also stated that Bolsonaro and his partner, vice presidential candidate Walter Braga Netto, were charged with armed criminal organizations.

"Together with other individuals, including civilians and military personnel, they are trying to prevent, in a coordinated manner, the results of the 2022 presidential election are fulfilled," the Brazilian AGO said in a statement.

The Brazilian AGO based the indictment's decision on a more than 800-page federal police report, released last year after a two-year investigation.

Police reports reveal Bolsonaro is fully aware of and actively participating in plans to maintain power.

Bolsonaro has denied the allegations and said he was a victim of "persecution."

The Brazilian Attorney General's Office said Bolsonaro's plans were to start in 2021, with a systematic attack on the electronic voting system, through public statements and on the Internet.

During the second round of Brazil's presidential election in October 2022, the Brazilian Attorney General's Office said security agencies were deployed to prevent voters from selecting opposition candidates.

Those involved in the systematic effort were working to facilitate, including when Bolsonaro's supporters stormed the presidential, Congressional and MA palaces.

"Violence and vandalism on January 8, 2023," the Brazilian AGO said in a statement.