Prosecutor requests conviction of 40 over Jan. 8 riots

Brazil’s Prosecutor-General’s Office on Monday (Aug. 7) requested the conviction of 40 individuals accused of participating in the pro-coup riots of January 8. The sentences add up to 30 years in prison.

According to the document sent to the Supreme Court, Deputy Prosecutor-General Carlos Frederico Santos maintains that the group stormed the headquarters of the Supreme Court, Congress, and the Planalto presidential palace, and should be convicted of armed criminal association, violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup d’état, and damage to federal property.

The prosecution states that the rallies were previously organized through messages on social networks. In addition, the presence of hunters, shooters, and firearms collectors was confirmed among the rioters.

Compensation for the damages caused by the vandalism to the government buildings is said to total BRL 25 million—encoming BRL 3.5 million (Senate), BRL 1.1 million (lower house), BRL 9 million (presidential palace), and BRL 11.4 million (Supreme Court).

In September, the Supreme Court should try the first criminal charges against those investigated for the January 8 riots.

Since the start of the probes, 1,290 people have been charged before Brazil’s top court.

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