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A retired general told the top court in Brazil that he prepared a document outlining a plan for the assassination of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, which was part of an alleged coup conspiracy involving former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is also facing trial.
General Mario Fernandes, who previously served as the acting head of the General Secretariat of the presidency under Bolsonaro, confirmed during his testimony on Thursday that he created and printed the document but referred to it as a personal “thought.”
Right-wing Bolsonaro is being tried for allegedly conspiring to carry out a coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 election to leftist Lula da Silva.
According to prosecutors, the conspiracy included a plan named “Green and Yellow Dagger,” referencing the colours of Brazil’s flag and Bolsonaro’s party, to assassinate Lula.
“That digital file only reflects a thought of mine, a compilation of data, a study of the situation,” Fernandes said via videoconference during interrogations of about 30 former Bolsonaro associates on trial alongside the ex-president.
Fernandes claimed that he printed the document at the Planalto presidential office to read it “on paper,” after which he destroyed it.
“It was not presented to anyone, it was not shared by anyone,” he added.
Nevertheless, prosecutors accused the retired military officer of bringing the plan to the Alvorada presidential residence to discuss it with Bolsonaro on December 6, 2022. On that same date, Bolsonaro was presented with a draft decree that proposed extraordinary measures to overturn the election results, according to investigators.
The supposed “Green and Yellow Dagger” scheme aimed to be executed on December 15, 2022, and also intended to assassinate then-vice president-elect Geraldo Alckmin and Supreme Court justice Alexandre de Moraes, who is currently overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial.
The conspiracy was reportedly unsuccessful due to a lack of backing from high-ranking military officials.
Last week, prosecutors sought Bolsonaro’s conviction, and if he is found guilty, the 70-year-old could face a prison sentence of up to 40 years.
