Brazilian Supreme Court Judge, Alexandre de Moraes on Thursday ordered the immediate arrest of former Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello after rejecting his challenges against a previous conviction.
The order is coming after the Supreme Court in 2023 sentenced Collor, the first president to win the popular vote after the end of Brazil's last military dictatorship in 1985, to eight years and 10 months in prison on corruption and money laundering charges.
Collor's lawyer said in a statement that his legal defense are surprised and concerned by Moraes decision, adding that the former president will however comply with the order.
The judge requested a session with the full Supreme Court to decide whether to uphold or reject his decision.
The 2023 conviction followed Brazilian prosecutor's office accusation that Collor received around 30 million reais ($5.28 million) in bribes from a then subsidiary of state-run oil company Petrobras.
DAILY POST reports that Collor took office as president in 1990, but did not finish his term as Congress decided to impeach him two years later after a separate corruption scandal, from which Supreme Court acquitted him in 1994.
He was later elected senator.
