Bolsonaro pardons police and military officers

Shortly before the end of his tenure

Bolsonaro pardons police and military officers

Shortly before the end of his term in office, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro pardoned convicted police officers and soldiers.

Members of the security forces and military who have been convicted of negligent offenses and have already served at least a sixth of their sentences can be released from prison, according to a decree published in the Official Gazette on Friday. Disabled, disabled and seriously ill people are also pardoned. Right-wing head of state Bolsonaro is leaving office after the election victory of left-wing politician Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the turn of the year.

For example, police officers and soldiers who have killed or injured people during operations could benefit from the amnesty. Ex-military Bolsonaro has repeatedly said that police officers who kill a suspect on duty should not be investigated. Rather, they deserved a medal. Brazilian security forces are notorious for robust operations. When the heavily armed special police units move into the slums to fight drug gangs, bystanders are often caught between the fronts. Security forces killed 6,133 people in Brazil last year.