Sérgio Cabral sentenced to pay R$ 1 million for prison privileges

The Rio de Janeiro Court of Justice has sentenced former governor Sérgio Cabral to pay R$ 1 million in collective moral damages for administrative misconduct. The ruling, issued by the 4th Public Law Chamber, addresses a scheme designed to provide unauthorized privileges to Cabral during his incarceration between 2016 and 2018 at the José Frederico Marques Public Jail and the Bangu VIII Penitentiary.

According to the court, a coordinated structure was established to bypass prison protocols. This included the unauthorized entry of electronics, specialized food, fitness equipment, and household appliances. A notable finding was the creation of a “videoteca do Cabral” (Cabral’s video library), which featured a 65-inch television and a home theater system. The court noted that false donation documents were used to simulate the legality of these items.

In addition to Cabral, the court convicted six public agents involved in the irregularities, including the former State Secretary of Penitentiary Administration, Erir Ribeiro Costa Filho. The investigation highlighted systemic failures, such as the lack of security camera monitoring, unregistered visitors, and the loss of official visitation records, concluding these were intentional actions to facilitate privileges and evade oversight.