Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison for an attempted coup and has been under house arrest since August, was placed in pre-trial detention on Saturday 22 November. The far-right former head of state was found guilty in September of being head of state. “criminal organization” after conspiring to ensure his “authoritarian maintenance of power” following the victory of his leftist rival, Lula, in the October 2022 elections.
Bolsonaro has known for days that he had been threatened with prison time to begin serving his sentence. This placement in pretrial detention was decided because a “high leak risk” Brazil’s former right-wing president, explained Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes in his decision consulted by Agence France-Presse.
Under house arrest at his home in Brasilia since August, Bolsonaro is trying to do just that “to solve” his electronic bracelet in the hope of escaping during a demonstration planned for Saturday at the end of the day by his supporters near his home, according to the judge. “He was taken prisoner, but I don’t know why”asked Celso Vilardi, one of his lawyers, to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
A new call may be made
The Supreme Court formally rejected Bolsonaro’s appeal of his sentence last week. His defense still has the possibility of filing additional appeals until the beginning of the week. But he had requested on Friday that he remain under house arrest rather than be sent to prison, citing his health problems.
Based on his lawyer’s request to the court, the former head of state is in poor health “very weak” and detention “It will have serious consequences and endanger his life”. Allowing him to serve his sentence at home will be a decision that must be taken “human character” and it“the only action capable of preserving the human dignity, health and life of the convict”had entered his plea on Friday.
The former president notably suffered from a stab wound to the stomach in 2018, which required him to undergo multiple surgical interventions. He was also diagnosed with skin cancer in September and suffered frequent bouts of severe hiccups, according to those close to him.
According to prosecutors, the coup plan initiated by Bolsonaro’s camp failed due to a lack of support from senior military officials. They mainly planned the assassination of Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin and the Supreme Court judge handling the case, Alexandre de Moraes.
The high court on Tuesday sentenced three soldiers and a police officer to more than twenty years in prison, who were found guilty of planning three murders as part of an operation called “Green and yellow dagger” (Brazilian colors).
