The digital influencer, businessman and former candidate for mayor of the state capital Pablo Marçal was sentenced to eight years of ineligibility for abuse of political, economic power, misuse of media and illicit fundraising. The decision, of the first instance of the Electoral Justice of São Paulo, was published on Friday (21). It is appealed to the Regional Electoral Court (TRE).
According to the decision of Judge Antonio Maria Patiño Zorz of the 1st Electoral Zone of São Paulo, there was a clear participation of the influencer in the illegal actions of his candidacy. “There is no doubt about his decisive performance because of direct and personal engagement by illicit conduct practiced for the benefit of his candidacy,” he said in the decision.
The judge considered that the former candidate lent public support on social networks in exchange for money, promising to send support videos to candidates who made payments to the account of his election campaign.
“It was shown that the defendant Pablo Marçal offered political support through video to boost electoral campaign of candidates for councilor (who were not in leftist parties) in exchange for donation of the amount of R $ 5,000.00 (five thousand reais) to your election campaign. This fact was uncontroversial considering that it was not refuted by the defendants and confirmed the receipt of donations arising from that video, as well as violating the rules governing the Brazilian elections, as its conduct configures fraud to the law that characterizes abuse of power ” , says the text of the decision.
The investigation action was filed by Guilherme Boulos, former candidate for the post of mayor of the municipality of São Paulo for the love for São Paulo coalition.
Pablo Marçal’s staff has not yet spoken out about the decision.
