Global site navigation

Rio ex-governor to be freed after 6 years in jail over corruption
Business and Economy

Rio ex-governor to be freed after 6 years in jail over corruption

by  AFP 2 min read
Sergio Cabral, then governor of Rio de Janeiro, smiles during a visit to a Brazilian construction site on November 8, 2013; he is expected to be freed soon from prison after serving six years on massive corruption charges
Sergio Cabral, then governor of Rio de Janeiro, smiles during a visit to a Brazilian construction site on November 8, 2013; he is expected to be freed soon from prison after serving six years on massive corruption charges. Photo: YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP/File
Source: AFP

PAY ATTENTION: Share Your Story on Briefly TV Life. Become Our Next Guest. Apply Now!

The former Rio de Janeiro governor accused of receiving huge bribes over construction work for the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Olympics will soon be free after six years in prison, following a ruling by Brazil's highest court.

The magistrates of the Federal Supreme Court (STF) voted three to two late Friday to place Sergio Cabral under house arrest pending further appeals.

His lawyers said the 59-year-old former journalist would probably be released from prison on Monday.

Cabral was sentenced to more than 425 years in prison in 23 corruption cases, but no higher court has yet heard his appeals.

Prosecutors say he purchased jewelry and other luxury items with embezzled money -- even paying for a horse-riding lesson for his son.

STF Judge Gilmar Mendes, whose vote proved decisive Friday, said Cabral could not be held "indefinitely" under a preventive measure taken to avoid any possible destruction of evidence should he be allowed to await trial in freedom.

Read also

Goldman Sachs to cut up to 8% of staff: reports

PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app!

But Mendes added that his decision did not in any way amount to Cabral's acquittal.

Cabral served as Rio governor from 2007 to 2014, years in which Brazil was picked to host both the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

Revelations of large-scale corruption involving Cabral shocked public opinion in Brazil.

The diversion of millions of dollars of funds directly affected the public finances of Rio, leaving it near bankruptcy just months after the Olympics.

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.

Hot: