Brazil's Supreme Court Suspends Aécio Neves from Senate and Orders House Arrest at Night

09/27/2017 - 09h48

Justices of the first panel of the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) decided, on Tuesday (26), to suspend senator Aécio Neves (PSDB-MG) from office and determined his house arrest at night.

In July, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) requested, once more, Neves' imprisonment and his removal from office, which had already been denied by the judge-rapporteur of the case, Minister Marco Aurélio.

Tuesday's decision was taken by 3 of the 5 justices from the first panel of Court: Luís Roberto Barroso, Rosa Weber and Luiz Fux. Justice Marco Aurélio and Alexandre de Moraes voted in favor of Neves.

The decision has immediate effect. The senator can still file an appeal with the panel and with the en banc Court, composed of 11 justices.

The five judges of the panel rejected the request for preventive detention made by the PGR. They agreed that Neves could not be arrested because the Constitution states members of Congress can only be detained in flagrante delicto.

Marco Aurélio repeated his vote from June, when he determined that Neves should return to office. The senator had been suspended by Edson Fachin, first rapporteur of the proceeding.

Barroso disagreed, and voted for the imposition of writs of prevention. Rosa Weber repeated his decision. Justice Fux had the casting vote.

"A public figure, when in a role on behalf of the people, needs to perform acts of grandeur," stated Luiz Fux.

Aécio Neves' defense did not issue a statement yet.

Translated by ANA BEATRIZ DEMARIA

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	Pedro Ladeira/Folhapress
	Brazil's Supreme Court suspended Aécio Neves from Senate