Verdict in trial of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro set for early September

Jair Bolsonaro (Michael M Santiago/PA)

A verdict and sentence in the coup trial against former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro will be delivered early next month, the country’s Supreme Court announced.

The court said the five-justice panel that heard the right-wing leader’s case will deliver verdicts and sentences on the five counts against him from September 2 to 12.

Bolsonaro, who has drawn the strong support of US President Donald Trump and who remains under house arrest, is accused of leading a conspiracy to stay in office after his narrow election defeat in 2022 to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (Eraldo Peres/AP)

Bolsonaro denies wrongdoing.

Prosecutors say Bolsonaro and several of his allies headed a criminal organisation that plotted to overturn the election, including plans to kill Mr Lula and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is overseeing the criminal case.

Prosecutors have presented message exchanges, handwritten notes and other evidence allegedly detailing the plot.

Defence lawyers have argued that no coup went forward and that Bolsonaro allowed the presidential transition to Mr Lula to take place, undermining any allegations that he tried to thwart that process.

There are two five-justice panels at Brazil’s top court, and Justice de Moraes brought the case to the one he sits on.

Bolsonaro, who governed from 2019 to 2022, appointed two members of the court, but both sit on the other panel.

There are five counts against Bolsonaro issued by the country’s prosecutor-general: attempting to stage a coup, involvement in an armed criminal organisation, attempted violent abolition of the democratic rule of law and two counts involving destruction of state property.

The prosecution finished presenting its case in July and the defence wrapped up its arguments this week.

Bolsonaro’s trial has gripped a sharply divided Brazilian public.

It received even more attention after Mr Trump directly tied a 50% tariff on imported Brazilian goods to his ally’s judicial situation.

The US president has called the proceedings a “witch hunt” against a political opponent, triggering nationalist reactions from many Brazilian politicians.