Zambelli is convicted for the second time by the Supreme Federal Court; sentence is 5 years and 3 months

The Supreme Federal Court (STF) plenary session sentenced federal deputy Carla Zambelli (PL-SP) to five years and three months in prison this Friday, the 22nd. She was found guilty of committing the crimes of illegal possession of a firearm and unlawful coercion with the use of a firearm.

The trial was held in a virtual session, with nine votes for conviction and two against. This is the second conviction imposed on the PL congresswoman, who is currently detained in Italy following an extradition request filed by Brazilian authorities. She can still appeal the decision.

Zambelli had already been convicted of hacking into the National Justice Council's electronic systems.

The case closed this Friday concerns the episode in which the deputy pulled out a firearm and chased journalist Luan Araújo on the eve of the second round of the 2022 elections. The chase began after Zambelli and Luan had a disagreement following a political event in São Paulo.

The rapporteur of the case, Justice Gilmar Mendes, along with Alexandre de Moraes, Carmen Lúcia, Flávio Dino, Cristiano Zanin, Dias Toffoli, Edson Fachin, Luiz Fux, and Luís Roberto Barroso, voted to convict the congresswoman. Nunes Marques and André Mendonça, both appointed by former President Jair Bolsonaro, disagreed with the rapporteur.

Nunes Marques defended the acquittal for illegal possession of a firearm, arguing that the second offense had already expired. Mendonça, however, acquitted the congresswoman of illegal possession of a firearm and sentenced Zambelli to eight months in open prison for unlawful coercion.