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Maceio – Brazil’s former president Fernando Collor de Mello has been arrested and taken to prison. He begins serving a nearly nine-year sentence for corruption and money laundering. The Collor de Mello arrest comes after the nation’s highest court denied his final appeal against the conviction.
Collor de Mello, 75, was detained Thursday in Maceio city. A court found him guilty of accepting 20 million reais ($3.5 million) in bribes while serving as a senator between 2010 and 2014.
Conviction Linked to “Car Wash” Scandal
His conviction stems from Brazil’s massive “Car Wash” corruption scandal. That investigation revealed a huge network of bribes flowing from large construction firms to politicians. The Collor de Mello arrest adds another chapter to Brazil’s recent political history; four of seven presidents since the end of military rule (1964-1985) have now faced conviction, jail, or impeachment.
Turbulent Political Career
Collor de Mello made history as Brazil’s first democratically elected president after the military dictatorship. However, his term ended early when he resigned during impeachment proceedings in 1992. He later staged a political comeback, serving as a senator for Alagoas state until 2022. This final Collor de Mello arrest concludes a turbulent political career.
Kayode Ojo
