Former Rio governor convicted to 14 years in jail

Former Rio de Janeiro State Governor Sérgio Cabral was convicted to 14 years and 2 months in jail by Judge Sergio Moro, of the 13th Federal Court of Curitiba. He had been charged with money laundering and pocketing bribes under Operation Car Wash. The sentence was issued Tuesday (Jun 13).

“The crime is part of a bigger picture, brought to light in the same proceedings—those concerning the ex-governor and his accomplices having charged a percentage as kickback on the whole of the public construction works at state level in Rio de Janeiro,” Moro writes in the sentence. In addition to the imprisonment, Cabral is to pay a fine of some $160 thousand.

The judge also stipulated that Cabral will have to remain imprisoned in case he decides to appeal against the decision. The former governor will only be eligible for relaxation of prison conditions after the amounts received by illicit means are returned.

“The responsibility of a state governor is enormous, and, as a result, so is his culpability when he commits a crime. There cannot be a more serious offense than that of the person who betrays his mandate and the sacred confidence that the people place on him for his own gain,” the sentence reads.

Other charged

Moro also decided for the acquittal of Cabral's wife Adriana Ancelmo, for lack of evidence that she committed or participated in the wrongdoing.

Former construction firm Andrade Gutierrez directors Clóvis Peixoto and Rogério Nora have also been charged in the same case. Both agreed to a plea bargain deal with federal prosecutors, who in turn requested the suspension of the case against them.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira