In a landmark ruling, Brazil's Supreme Court has delivered severe prison sentences to three elite army officers and a federal police officer for their roles in a dangerous plot to assassinate President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and overthrow the democratic government.
The Assassination and Coup Plot
The convicted men, all members of the elite "Kids Pretos" army unit distinguished by their black berets, were found guilty of actively participating in the "Green and Yellow Dagger" conspiracy. This plot, named after the colors of the Brazilian flag, was designed to prevent Lula from taking office after he defeated the right-wing incumbent Jair Bolsonaro in the 2022 presidential election.
According to Attorney General Paulo Gonet, the group had undertaken the explicit task of neutralizing key government figures. Their targets included not only President Lula but also his Vice President, Geraldo Alckmin, and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is currently presiding over the trial.
Lengthy Prison Sentences Handed Down
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court handed down prison terms ranging from 21 to 24 years. The convicted individuals are Lieutenant colonels Rodrigo Bezerra de Azevedo, Rafael Martins de Oliveira, and Helio Ferreira Lima, along with police officer Wladimir Matos Soares.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, in his vote for conviction, stated that the accused had "developed a plan to neutralize Brazilian public authorities" as part of a broader scheme to keep former President Jair Bolsonaro in power despite his electoral loss.
Broader Political Context and Consequences
This case is directly connected to the sentencing of former President Jair Bolsonaro himself. In September, the 70-year-old former army captain was sentenced to 27 years in prison for leading the plot, which culminated in a mob assault on government buildings—an event strikingly similar to the January 6th riot by Donald Trump's supporters in the United States.
An appeal by Bolsonaro was rejected by the Supreme Court on Friday. A court source informed AFP that any further appeals could be swiftly denied, potentially starting the process for Bolsonaro to be sent to jail. The former president, who maintains his innocence, has been under house arrest since August and, due to health problems from a 2018 stabbing, may request to serve his prison term at home.
The four recently sentenced men retain the right to appeal and will not be imprisoned until all appeals are exhausted.
