The new president of the Superior Military Court (STM) says Bolsonaro could be tried for a military crime.

André Richter - Reporter for Agência Brasil

The president of the Superior Military Court (STM), Minister Maria Elizabeth Rocha, said this Wednesday (12) that former President Jair Bolsonaro could be tried by the Military Court and lose his rank as a reserve captain in the Army.

According to the minister, Bolsonaro's eventual trial by the STM depends on the investigation into the coup plot and a statement from the Military Public Prosecutor's Office (MPM), which will have to verify whether the former president committed any military crime, in addition to the accusations of coup d'état and attempted violent abolition of the Democratic Rule of Law, which are common crimes and will be judged by the Supreme Federal Court (STF).

"He may be subject to a justification council for a representation of unworthiness. He may also be tried for military crimes, such as inciting the troops, for example. Everything will depend on how the criminal investigation is conducted in the Supreme Court and what the decision of the ministers of the First Panel and, subsequently, of the plenary will be, because an appeal will be possible," he stated.

The minister also said that military personnel involved in the coup plot and the events of January 8, 2023, could be tried by the military court.

"Those crimes that are detected during the criminal prosecution and that constitute military crimes, they [military personnel] will be judged in our Court, yes. Such as, for example, offenses by a subordinate against a superior. On social media, this happened, and we judged and convicted a colonel who offended an Army commander," he added.

Posse

Earlier, Maria Elisabeth Rocha was sworn in as president of the STM (Superior Military Court). The first woman to hold the position in the court's 217-year history, the minister will serve a two-year term.