Sao Paulo, May 10 Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has temporarily suspended a law that could shorten prison terms for individuals convicted over the January 8, 2023, attacks on government buildings, including former President Jair Bolsonaro.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who was assigned to review the law's constitutionality, issued the decision on Saturday (local time), reports Xinhua news agency.
In his ruling, Moraes said the suspension was necessary to ensure legal certainty while the court determines whether the law is compatible with Brazil's constitution.
The full court is expected to review legal challenges to the legislation, which was promulgated on Friday by Congress President Davi Alcolumbre after lawmakers overturned a veto by President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro was sentenced by the Supreme Federal Court in September last year to 27 years and three months in prison for leading an attempted coup.
Earlier in March, the First Chamber of Brazil's Supreme Federal Court had rejected a request for humanitarian house arrest for former President Jair Bolsonaro.
The court's decision confirmed a preliminary ruling by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who determined that the detention facility guarantees necessary healthcare.
Moraes noted that while the defence cited a medical report, the report itself ruled out the need for hospitalisation.
The justice also emphasised that Bolsonaro's frequent meetings with allies demonstrate that his physical and mental health were compatible with his current regime of imprisonment.
On April 30, Brazil's Congress overturned President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's veto of a sentencing bill that could reduce penalties for those convicted over the January 8, 2023, attacks on federal government buildings.
The measure, known as the "dosimetry" bill, lowers sentences for crimes such as attempted coup and violent abolition of the democratic order.
It also allows sentence reductions of one-third to two-thirds for individuals convicted as part of a crowd, provided they were not organisers or financiers.
Lawmakers overturned the veto by a vote of 318-144 in the lower house and 49-24 in the Senate.
The legislation could affect roughly 280 people, including former President Jair Bolsonaro.
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