Particle.news

Download on the App Store

Former Brazilian President Collor de Mello Begins Prison Sentence for Corruption

After the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal, the ex-leader was arrested and transferred to a special prison wing, with health-based house arrest requests still under review.

L'ancien président brésilien Fernando Collor de Mello, le 11 mai 2016 à Brasilia
Image
Image

Overview

  • Fernando Collor de Mello, Brazil's president from 1990 to 1992, was convicted in 2023 for corruption linked to Petrobras contracts and sentenced to eight years and ten months in prison.
  • On April 24, 2025, the Supreme Court rejected his final appeal, and Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered his immediate arrest.
  • Collor de Mello was detained on April 25, 2025, in Maceio and transferred to Baldomero Cavalcanti de Oliveira prison, where he is held in a special wing with an individual cell due to his status as a former president.
  • Prosecutors allege he received nearly €4 million in bribes to facilitate irregular contracts between a construction firm and a Petrobras subsidiary.
  • His defense has requested house arrest on health grounds, citing Parkinson's disease, with the Supreme Court awaiting input from the prosecutor general's office on the matter.