One year after attempted coup, top court keeps 66 in prison

One year after the putschist riots, 66 of the more than 2 thousand people arrested during the attacks are still in prison for inciting, financing, and carrying out the invasion. The figures were compiled by the office of Justice Alexandre de Moraes, rapporteur of the investigations.

The rest of those investigated were released and had their imprisonment replaced by precautionary measures, such as the use of electronic anklets, a ban on leaving the country, the suspension of gun permits and certificates, the surrender of passports, and weekly appearances before the courts.

Thus far, 25 people have been convicted by the Supreme Court. Sentences range from 10 to 17 years in prison in a closed regime.

They are guilty of five crimes: armed criminal association, abolition of the democratic rule of law, coup d’état, qualified damage, and depredation of protected federal property.

Around 1,100 of those being investigated will be entitled to a non-prosecution agreement and will not be indicted by the Office of the Attorney-General. The measure only applies to those who were arrested in front of army headquarters in Brasília on January 9, the day after the riots, and will not apply to those who took part in the storming and destruction of the headquarters.

Under the deal, those accused of crimes committed without violence or serious threat can confess in exchange for measures other than imprisonment—such as repairing the damage caused, handing over property that is the fruit of the crime, paying a fine, and doing community service.