‘I was convicted by generals who aren’t even law graduates,’ says colonel from ‘Barracks Diaries’

Retired Army Colonel Rubens Pierrotti Jr. has been convicted by the Superior Military Court for "undue criticism" and "offense to the Armed Forces." Pierrotti Jr. expressed strong dissent, stating his condemnation came from high-ranking military officials who lack legal training. He argues that such decisions, driven by "technical and corporatist" opinions, highlight flaws in the military justice system, which he believes is used as an instrument of persecution and "lawfare." Pierrotti Jr.'s conviction stems from content in his book, 'Diários da Caserna: Dossiê Smart - A História que o Exército Quer Riscar' (Barracks Diaries: Smart Dossier - The Story the Army Wants Erased), and interviews he gave to promote it. The military prosecution accused him of violating articles 166 and 219 of the Military Penal Code, which deal with publishing official information without license or publicly criticizing superiors and military discipline, and spreading false information that could damage the armed forces' reputation, respectively. Despite the conviction, Pierrotti Jr. received a suspended sentence of less than two years, provided he meets certain conditions over two years. His defense team, led by lawyers Caio Jorge Prado and André Perecmanis, intends to appeal to the Superior Military Court (STM) and, if necessary, escalate the case to the Supreme Federal Court. They contend that the presiding judge, Jorge Marcolino dos Santos, voted for acquittal, finding it impossible to convict Pierrotti Jr. based on the evidence presented by the military prosecution.

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I was convicted based on the opinion of four generals, who are not even law graduates.