Fernando Collor, who served as Brazil’s president from 1990 to 1992, has been taken into custody after being convicted of corruption in 2023. The former leader’s arrest follows a lengthy investigation into his alleged involvement in a bribery scheme. He is set to begin serving his prison sentence without delay.
Corruption Charges and Prison Sentence
Collor’s conviction stems from allegations that he accepted bribes totaling 20 million reais (approximately 3.5 million USD) in exchange for securing business deals for UTC Engenharia with BR Distribuidora, a subsidiary of the state-owned oil company Petrobras. Collor is also accused of using his influence to support key appointments within Petrobras during the time it was under government control.
The court has sentenced Collor to eight years and ten months in prison, to be served in a regular facility rather than under house arrest. His detention occurred in Alagoas, the northeastern state where he was born.
Link to Operation Car Wash Investigation
Collor’s arrest is part of the broader “Operation Car Wash” investigation, a sweeping corruption probe that has implicated numerous politicians and business leaders throughout Latin America. This investigation has also led to the imprisonment of high-profile figures, including former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in 2018.
The case against Collor is significant as it involves top-level officials, which fall under the jurisdiction of Brazil’s Supreme Court. Despite facing legal challenges, Collor had managed to delay his imprisonment through multiple appeals, but the court has now ruled that his sentence must be enforced.
Supreme Court Justice Moves to End Delay Tactics
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes signed the arrest order on Thursday, criticizing Collor’s defense team for attempting to stall the legal process. With the appeals exhausted, the court determined that Collor’s sentence was final, and his imprisonment was immediate.
The full Supreme Court was set to meet on Friday to confirm the decision. At the time of writing, Collor’s legal team has yet to issue a statement regarding his arrest.
From President to Prisoner
Fernando Collor made history as Brazil’s first democratically elected president in 1989 after the country emerged from military dictatorship. However, his presidency was marred by corruption scandals, and he was forced to resign in 1992 amid public outcry.
Despite his fall from grace, Collor made a political comeback in 2007, winning a seat in the Brazilian Senate as a representative for Alagoas. Now, after years of legal battles, Collor’s political career has come to an abrupt end with his prison sentence.
