Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was arrested Saturday after authorities allege he attempted to evade house arrest stemming from a conviction for plotting a failed coup following his 2022 election loss [[1]]. Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 to 2023 [[2]], was sentenced to over 27 years in prison but remained under house arrest pending appeal. The arrest comes after reports that bolsonaro attempted to tamper with his electronic monitoring device, raising concerns he planned to flee the country, potentially seeking asylum [[3]].
صدر الصورة، Reuters/Adriano Machado
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- Author, صوفيا فيريرا سانتوس وأليكس سميث
- Role, بي بي سي
Brazilian authorities have arrested former President Jair Bolsonaro after he allegedly attempted to flee house arrest.
Bolsonaro, a right-wing politician, was convicted in September of plotting a military coup and sentenced to more than 27 years in prison, though he remains under house arrest pending appeal.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the 70-year-old’s detention was a precautionary measure following the emergence of “new facts.”
Bolsonaro admitted to attempting to open the electronic ankle monitor placed on him using a soldering iron, but denied intending to remove it.
Court officials stated he had planned to use a scheduled rally outside his home as cover for an escape, a claim his lawyer also refuted.
According to an arrest warrant, Justice Moraes stated that information from the monitoring center overseeing Bolsonaro’s house arrest indicated the former president had “the intention of breaking the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure the success of his escape.”
The warrant further suggested this would have been “facilitated by the chaos resulting from the demonstration called by Bolsonaro’s son.”
Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator, had called on supporters to gather near his father’s home on Saturday evening.
On Friday, the senator wrote on social media: “Will you fight for your country, or will you just watch everything through your phones while on the couch? I call on you to fight with us.”
He said the gathering would allow supporters to “pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our country.”
In explaining the arrest decision, Justice Moraes pointed to the possibility of Bolsonaro fleeing to foreign embassies, citing a “history of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation.”
The arrest warrant noted that the U.S. Embassy in Brasília is approximately 8 miles from Bolsonaro’s residence.
Bolsonaro’s legal troubles have drawn criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who subsequently imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is currently being held at a police station in Brasília and is scheduled to be questioned on Sunday.
On Friday, Bolsonaro’s lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest with electronic monitoring.
The lawyers also requested permission for Bolsonaro to leave his home for medical treatment, stating he requires regular care for lung inflammation and other ailments.
His lawyer, Paulo Cunha Bueno, told reporters outside the Federal Police building that concerns about the ankle monitor were a “narrative trying to justify the unjustifiable.”
“Bolsonaro had no intention whatsoever of escaping from his home. There is a patrol of armed federal agents 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the door of his house,” the lawyer added.
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy to remain in power after losing the 2022 election to his leftist rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Supreme Court justices said he was aware of a plot that included plans to assassinate Lula and his running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Moraes – who was overseeing Bolsonaro’s trial.
The plot failed to gain support from military and air force leaders. Lula was sworn in without incident on January 1, 2023.
However, a week later, on January 8, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília. Security forces intervened and arrested around 1,500 people.
Judges found the riots were the result of incitement by Bolsonaro, saying his plan was for the military to intervene and restore him to power.
At the time, Bolsonaro’s lawyers described the 27-year and three-month sentence as “absurdly excessive.”
Bolsonaro was also barred from holding public office until 2060 – eight years after the end of his potential term.
The former president described the trial as a “witch hunt” and said it was designed to prevent him from running in the 2026 presidential election.
