Aida Franco de Lima – OPINION
It is quite difficult for an ordinary citizen to believe that, beyond divine justice, crime does not pay in Brazil, if the person responsible has a “good” record and a history in politics on their resume.
The example of Fernando Collor fits very well in this context. Last week, it was reported that he would be arrested for his involvement in embezzlement of R$20 million in bribes from the then state-owned company BR Distribuidora between 2010 and 2014. While serving as a senator, and in addition to being a well-known name, he allegedly received this amount from UTC Engenharia to use his political influence to promote projects and appoint directors to the Petrobras subsidiary. In 2019, BR Distribuidora, which belonged to Petrobras, was sold and privatized.
But Collor remained free until recently; in fact, he still is. After all, what is it like to serve house arrest in a mansion valued at R$9 million? A penthouse with a view of the sea, in the most upscale area of Maceió. “Are you kidding?” Ah, old Costinha would say, with the impatience of someone who is making fun. The sentence requires the former president to wear an electronic ankle bracelet and receive visits only from family members, health professionals and lawyers. What else would he need?
At 75 years old, the lawyers claimed that Collor snores, or rather, has sleep apnea, Parkinson's and bipolar disorder.
Collor's sentence dragged on for years, as we all know: with good lawyers, legal loopholes are wide open, and this gives the accused the right to enjoy freedom until, often, the sentence expires. When his prison sentence was ordered in 2023, punishing him with eight years and ten months, his lawyers moved to gain more time.
But last week, the Supreme Court Justice, better known on social media as Xandão, put an end to it: he ordered the former president's arrest, because there were no more arguments other than to delay the sentence. But the end didn't last long.
Collor preferred to stay in Fortaleza rather than remain imprisoned in Brasília. He, who loves power so much, chose to be far from the brains of Brazilian politics. He preferred his homeland, certainly already foreseeing that his stay in the Baldomero Cavalcanti prison would be temporary.
To accommodate a convict of his stature, he was given the director's office, with some adaptations: private bathroom, air conditioning, bed with a comfortable mattress and a view of the prison's vegetable garden. He arrived at the prison on Friday, April 25th, and left on May 1st, a Thursday. A special date: Labor Day.
On the same day that Collor left his five-star prison cell, it was time to remember the workers... Well, those who had their savings confiscated during his term as president. How many people took their own lives due to the despair caused by having their dreams destroyed? But it wasn't because of this act that Collor would later be impeached. For those who don't remember or don't know, just do some research...
History reminds us that Collor only fell because his brother, Pedro Collor, denounced him in a scandal that affected private life and corruption. It was not because he destroyed dreams. And now we are seeing history being made before our eyes and realizing that, if Justice is blind, good lawyers take advantage of it to guide it as they please.
For Collor, the view of the sea is like serving a sentence. Just like for members of the Judiciary who are punished with early retirement. Brazil, oh, the scriptwriters of Brazil must be joking. It's not possible!
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