The Italian court ruled on Thursday (28) that Brazilian far-right congresswoman Carla Zambelli must remain in custody while the country assesses an extradition request from Brazil. Zambelli has been held at Rebibbia women’s prison in Rome since July 29.
‘The panel believes that the risk of escape, which the defense insists on denying, must be assessed in light of the interested party’s proven conduct before her arrest,’ the court wrote in its decision.
Zambelli was arrested in Italy after fleeing Brazil just days before the Supreme Supreme Court (STF) sentenced her to 10 years in prison for orchestrating a cyberattack on the National Justice Council (CNJ), a federal judicial body.
Health claims dismissed; defense challenged court with medical request
The ruling came one day after Zambelli appeared in a hearing before the Rome Court of Appeals. During the session, her lawyers requested provisional release, citing alleged health problems. However, Italian authorities had already commissioned a medical report that found she was fit to remain incarcerated.
The judge said additional time was needed to review the documents submitted by the defense, but rejected the request for her release.
Second conviction for armed intimidation in 2022
In addition to the hacking conviction, Zambelli was sentenced in Brazil on August 22 to five years and three months in prison for illegal gun possession and armed coercion. The case refers to an incident that occurred on the eve of the second round of the 2022 presidential elections, when Zambelli was filmed chasing and pointing a pistol at a supporter of then-candidate Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
That sentence was also issued by Brazil’s Supreme Court (STF), with a majority vote of 9 to 2.
