On Tuesday afternoon, former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva saw his prison sentence reduced by the Superior Court of Justice (STJ), Brazil’s second-highest tribunal. In a unanimous ruling, judges decided to lower Lula’s punishment for the crimes of corruption and money laundering from 12 years, 1 month, and 20 days, to 8 years, 10 months, and 20 days. According to Brazilian law, the move could see the ex-president leave jail and be placed under house arrest later this year.
Brazil’s penal code allows for progressive sentencing, where convicts can move to less restrictive prison...