Brazil’s former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro was taken into federal police custody on Saturday, ending months of house arrest monitored by an electronic ankle bracelet.
The detention came just days before he was expected to begin serving a 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt following his 2022 election defeat.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen multiple cases against Bolsonaro, ordered the preemptive arrest citing evidence that the former president tampered with his ankle monitor in the early hours of Saturday and risked fleeing the country.
The justice pointed to a planned vigil organized by Bolsonaro’s supporters near his residence as a potential source of confusion that could facilitate an escape.
In his ruling, Justice de Moraes stated that Bolsonaro’s ankle monitor registered a violation at 12:08 a.m. local time, indicating an intent to disable the in his ruling, Justice de Moraes stated that Bolsonaro’s ankle monitor registered a violation at 12:08 a.m. local time, indicating an intent to disable the device.
The decision also referenced the possibility of the former president seeking asylum in nearby foreign embassies and noted that several co-defendants and allies have already left Brazil to avoid prosecution.
The justice emphasized that the gathering of supporters could hinder police oversight and enable Bolsonaro to evade impending imprisonment.
Bolsonaro was convicted in September of orchestrating a plot to prevent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from assuming office after the 2022 election.
The scheme culminated in supporters storming government buildings in early 2023.
Although appeals remain pending and no final arrest warrant has yet been issued for the coup conviction, the court deemed immediate detention necessary to prevent flight.
Bolsonaro’s defense team described the detention as causing “deep perplexity,” arguing that the former president was arrested at home while under constant surveillance and wearing the monitor.
They plan to file an appeal and maintain that the scheduled event was a constitutionally protected prayer vigil.
The Supreme Court panel is set to review Justice de Moraes’ decision on Monday.