Brazil Court Confirms Bolsonaro’s Jail Term After Alleged Escape Attempt
BRASILIA — Brazil’s Supreme Court has upheld the imprisonment of former President Jair Bolsonaro, following his detention over the weekend for tampering with his electronic ankle monitor. The court determined that Bolsonaro posed a flight risk while appealing a 27-year sentence tied to his involvement in a failed coup attempt.
The far-right leader was taken into custody on Saturday after authorities discovered he had used a soldering iron to damage the monitoring device—a violation of the terms of his house arrest. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes described the act as “willful and conscious,” pointing to serious indications that Bolsonaro may have been preparing to flee the country.
In September, Bolsonaro was convicted for his role in a plot to prevent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office after the 2022 elections. The charges included organizing a coup attempt and involvement in an assassination plan targeting the leftist leader.
Justice Moraes highlighted that Bolsonaro’s proximity to the U.S. embassy in Brasília, combined with his political ties to former U.S. President Donald Trump, raised concerns that he might seek political asylum abroad. These factors contributed to the court’s decision to order his return to jail.
During a hearing on Sunday, Bolsonaro offered conflicting explanations for his actions. He initially claimed he damaged the monitor out of “curiosity,” but later stated he had experienced paranoia due to medication. His legal team requested that he be returned to house arrest on humanitarian grounds, citing his confused mental state. The court denied the appeal.
All four justices in the Supreme Court’s first chamber voted to maintain Bolsonaro’s imprisonment. The ruling becomes official once the session concludes later Monday evening. Bolsonaro’s defense team has until midnight to file another legal challenge.
This case marks a significant moment in Brazil’s political history, as a former president faces the possibility of decades behind bars for seeking to undermine the nation’s democratic process.
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