A Brazilian federal court on Tuesday ordered former President Jair Bolsonaro to pay 1 million reais ($188,865) in damages for collective moral harm over racist remarks he made while in office.
The case stemmed from a May 2021 incident in which Bolsonaro mocked a Black supporter who had asked for a photo. The former president likened the man’s hair to a cockroach breeding ground, saying he saw a cockroach crawling in it, comments the court deemed discriminatory and offensive.
Bolsonaro’s legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment. His defense has previously argued that the remarks were made in jest, denying any intent to cause racial offense.
The ruling comes less than a week after Brazil’s Supreme Court sentenced Bolsonaro to 27 years and three months in prison for attempting a coup following his 2022 election defeat.
The latest decision also coincides with the former leader’s hospitalization in Brasília, after falling ill at his residence, where he remains under house arrest.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
