Brazilian ex‑mayor, ex‑councilor sentenced for corruption, racism

The 5th Criminal Chamber of the Santa Catarina Court of Justice sentenced former Capivari de Baixo mayor Vicente Corrêa Costa and former municipal finance secretary Glauco Gazola Zanella to 13 years, 10 months and 25 days in a closed‑regime prison for organized crime, passive corruption and related offenses tied to a solid‑waste contract. The judgment also ordered the forfeiture of assets, a fine of 53 days‑worth of wages and an eight‑year ban on holding public office. Six other defendants linked to the same business network received shorter terms.

In Rio Grande do Sul, a first‑instance court in Encantado convicted former councilor of Roca Sales of the PTB for racism after he declared that municipal works should be carried out by “white people” during a televised session. He received a sentence of four years and one month in a semi‑open regime, with the possibility of appeal. The ruling highlighted the aggravating factor of his public office, which amplified the impact of the discriminatory statement.

Both cases illustrate Brazil’s ongoing judicial actions against public officials for abuse of power, whether through corruption schemes or hate speech.