The Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) is back in session this Wednesday, May 6th, to resume the high-stakes trial of former Acre state governor Gladson Camelí. This latest hearing marks the fifth time the court has attempted to analyze this complex criminal case, which carries the potential for a conviction that would bar the politician from holding public office for eight years under Brazil's 'Ficha Limpa' (Clean Slate) law.
The trial's resumption follows a significant procedural victory for the prosecution. The court formally rejected a series of appeals filed by Camelí's defense team. These legal maneuvers sought to annul key evidence and suspend the entire criminal proceeding, arguing there were omissions and irregularities in previous rulings. However, the STJ justices found no errors or illegalities that would justify overturning their prior decisions.
A central point of contention has been the admissibility of certain evidence. The defense had successfully argued before the Supreme Federal Tribunal (STF) that evidence gathered between May 2020 and January 2021 should be removed from the case. However, in rejecting the latest appeal, Minister Nancy Andrighi clarified that the specific financial intelligence reports excluded by the STF were not used in the original criminal complaint or in her own substantive vote, meaning their removal does not impact the core of the prosecution's case.
The charges against the former governor are severe. The Federal Public Ministry (MPF) accuses Camelí of being part of a criminal organization involved in bid-rigging, embezzlement of public funds, both active and passive corruption, and money laundering. The investigation, dubbed 'Operation Ptolomeu,' began in 2019 and centers on contracts awarded to a Brasília-based company, Murano, which allegedly subcontracted a firm linked to the governor's brother, creating a scheme for financial kickbacks.
The political stakes are equally high. Camelí resigned from the governorship on April 2nd, 2026, a move widely seen as an attempt to secure a run for the Federal Senate in the upcoming elections. A criminal conviction from this trial would almost certainly trigger the 'Ficha Limpa' law, rendering him ineligible and effectively ending his 2026 campaign before it truly begins.
This judicial saga has been marked by repeated delays. The case was initially scheduled for November 2024, then rescheduled multiple times through December 2024 and into April 2025, with each session suspended due to procedural requests or votes of review. Minister Nancy Andrighi has already voted for conviction, proposing a sentence of over 25 years in prison and the loss of political rights.
As the trial finally moves forward, Camelí remains subject to strict precautionary measures. These include a ban on contacting witnesses, surrendering his passport, a prohibition on leaving the country, and a freeze on his assets. The outcome of this resumed session will be closely watched, as it could definitively shape the political landscape in Acre and determine the future of one of its most prominent figures.
Based on reporting from g1.