Supporters of the measure described it as a response to what they view as excessive or abusive sentencing related to the events of 8 January, when government buildings were attacked following Bolsonaro’s defeat in the 2022 election. Backers argued that reducing penalties would address serious injustices affecting individuals who, in their view, received disproportionate prison terms under an overly punitive judicial approach.

Some senators backing the bill also rejected the characterisation of the events as a coup attempt, instead portraying them as acts of disorder. They stressed that accountability should focus on individual responsibility, arguing that those who caused damage or invaded public buildings should be held to account without broad political generalisations.

Opponents warned that the legislation risks minimising the gravity of the attacks on democratic institutions. Critics in the Senate said that weakening sentences could undermine accountability and deterrence, cautioning that downplaying what occurred on 8 January may encourage similar challenges to Brazil ’s constitutional order in the future.

The bill had already been approved by the lower house and now moves to President Lula, who has previously indicated that he intends to veto it. Bolsonaro began serving his sentence last month after being convicted of plotting a coup following his election defeat. Earlier drafts of the proposal included full amnesty, but lawmakers later excluded that option, opting instead for a substantial reduction in prison terms, a move that continues to draw domestic and international scrutiny.

China's Tang Renjian (death sentence)

China’s Changchun Intermediate People’s Court handed Tang Renjian, the former minister of agriculture and rural affairs, a death sentence with a two-year reprieve for corruption on Sunday, September 28.

According to the court , over the period from 2007 to 2024, Tang abused both central and local positions to assist companies in securing project contracts, adjust personnel placements, and also leverage his influence in exchange for money and valuables.

The total value of bribes was reported at 268 million yuan($37.6 million).

Tang, however, received a suspended death sentence, which allows for the punishment to be reduced to life in prison after two years if he commits no other offences.

China’s Communist Party expelled Tang in November 2024, just six months after an anti-graft probe removed him from office.

His arrest comes on the back of President Xi Jinping’s sweeping purge of security and political elites, which was launched in 2020 to enforce absolute loyalty. Before becoming agriculture minister, Tang served as governor of Gansu from 2017 to 2020.

DR Congo's Joseph Kabila (death sentence)

Joseph Kabila, who ruled the Democratic Republic of the Congo from 2001 to 2019, met his fate on Tuesday, September 30, when the country's high military court sentenced him to death in absentia.

Although he was not in court and represented by no lawyers, he was convicted of treason, war crimes, crimes against humanity, sexual assault and other grave offences, with the court highlighting his alleged collaboration with the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, which seized a part of Congo..

Alongside the death sentence, Kabila was ordered to pay $50 billion in damages to the Congolese state and victims.

Kabila was the president of DR Congo from 2001 to 2019. His tenure is reported to have been fraught with chronic instability, resource conflict, and regional interventions in the country.

Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro (27-year sentence)

Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court convicted ex-President Jair Bolsonaro of conspiring to orchestrate a coup after his 2022 election defeat and sentenced him to 27 years and three months in prison on September 11.

He was found guilty of leading a criminal organisation, attempting to abolish democratic rule by force, plotting a coup, committing violent damage, and degrading government property.

Evidence included his alleged role in planning the January 8, 2023, attacks on federal buildings in Brasília, pressuring the military, and even plotting assassinations of President Lula and Supreme Court justices.

The trial was historic, making Bolsonaro the first former Brazilian president convicted for directly attacking democracy. He remains under house arrest in Brasília, denies all charges as political persecution, and has filed an appeal seeking release.

What’s in the bill:

The initiative comes amid reports of rising violence, injuries, and even deaths linked to public drinking, particularly in tourist areas. “This is about restoring peace and safety in our communities,” Morera said in his remarks.

The Supreme Court has ruled that the bill does not alter judicial structures, meaning it requires only 29 votes in the Legislative Assembly to pass, instead of 38. However, justices cautioned that more resources may be needed to manage new cases.

Costa Rica, long known for its stability and tourism-driven economy, faces growing pressure to balance civil liberties with security in urban hubs and coastal towns popular with visitors.

What they said

“In applying article 7 of the military penal code, the court imposes a single sentence, namely the most severe one, which is the death penalty,” Lt Gen Mutombo Katalayi said in court. “This is a vast joke. We have always said this is a political trial,” Kabila's party’s permanent secretary, Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, said after the verdict. “Instead of seeking cohesion and national reconciliation, this trial will further divide Congolese.” However, victims’ lawyers hailed the outcome. “Victims finally appear and the suffering they live in anonymity now has an author,” said Kasongo Mayombo, who represented several NGOs in eastern Congo.

While the death penalty was imposed, the court granted a two-year reprieve, citing Tang’s confession, cooperation with investigators, and repayment of illegal gains. His political rights were revoked for life, and all personal assets were confiscated.

Tang, 61, previously served as governor of Gansu province and vice-chairman of Guangxi before leading the agriculture ministry. He was expelled from the Communist Party in November 2024, months after the party’s anti-graft watchdog opened its probe.

His case highlights the scope of President Xi Jinping’s comprehensive anti-corruption campaign, which has since 2012 led to the punishment of more than a million officials, including senior figures in the military and government.

Analysts note the campaign has reinforced Xi’s control over the ruling Communist Party, while Beijing insists it strengthens governance and public trust.

Tang’s sentencing follows high-profile corruption cases against two former defence ministers, Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe, reflecting the campaign’s reach across both civilian and military institutions.

In addition to the prison term, Masra was fined 1 billion CFA francs, which equates to approximately $1.8 million. His legal counsel labelled the sentence “an ignominy and unworthy humiliation,” and confirmed an appeal will be filed.

Before departing the courtroom, Masra delivered a defiant message to his supporters to “stand firm.” A message they have lived up to.

Large protests emerged in the country on Saturday, August 9, after the ruling, as supporters chanted that the trial and sentence were unfair.

According to Sitack Yombatina, Vice President of the Transformers Party, the supposed crime of the party leader, Masra, is being handled as a political case.

"I spoke with a few people , and the politicians are going to sort this out, which means that the magistrates who have the final say, who made the law, who have the text at their disposal, who are in their jurisdiction, who are in their territory, are unable to pronounce judgement based on the written texts and are deferring to politicians. There is a problem. Why didn't we do this at the National Assembly if it's political? Why didn't we do this at the Palace on 15 January if it's political? Why didn't we do this at the Presidency of the Republic if it's political? Why didn't we do this at the Premature if it's political? Why didn't we do it at the Ombudsman's office if it's political?" he quizzed.

A day earlier, on August 8, 2025, Chad’s prosecutor general had urged the court to impose an even harsher sentence of 25 years in prison along with the confiscation of assets and a demand for 5 billion West African CFA francs (around $8.9 million) in compensation to the state.

Masra, who briefly served as prime minister in early 2024, challenged President Mahamat Déby in the disputed 2024 presidential election. After contesting the results, he resigned his post in late May 2024.

The incident triggering these charges occurred amid escalating ethnic and regional tensions in Logone Occidental in May 2025 and claimed 35 lives.