Brazil’s Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro to start serving his 27-year prison sentence for allegedly leading a coup attempt. The decision caught many off guard in the South American nation, who doubted that he would ever end up in prison. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen the case, ruled that the embattled leader will remain in custody after being arrested last Saturday.
After the Supreme Court’s order, supporters and detractors of Bolsonaro assembled outside the federal police headquarters, calling for the ex-Brazilian President’s release. Meanwhile, others were celebrating his imprisonment.
Bolsonaro, a close aide of US President Donald Trump, was accused of conspiring to overthrow current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He was convicted in September 2022, after losing the election to Lula. but his defence team chose not to file a final appeal against it. Eventually, Justice Moraes declared the verdict, restricting any further appeals and activating the full 27-year sentence.
The former army captain allegedly attempted to block Lula from taking office. The Supreme Court found him guilty of five crimes, including establishing an armed criminal organisation, trying to abolish democracy, and arranging a violent coup plot.
The 70-year-old former leader has been under house arrest since August. He was accused of attempting to break his electronic ankle monitor. According to the court, Bolsonaro used a soldering iron on the device in a bid to escape. In a video made public by the court, Bolsonaro admitted he had used the tool out of “curiosity,” and dismissed any wrongdoing.
Bolsonaro cannot contact the few other inmates at the federal police headquarters, reports added. His 12-square-meter room has a bed, AC, desk, and a TV set, along with a private bathroom.
