Jair Bolsonaro Detained After Months of House Arrest

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was taken into custody by federal police on Saturday, marking the end of his months-long house arrest as he continues to appeal a Supreme Court decision against him regarding attacks on Brazil’s democracy, according to his lawyer.

Celso Vilardi, Bolsonaro’s lawyer, didn’t specify why he was detained. However, a source close to the situation suggested it was a precautionary measure related to the conditions of his house arrest.

The police confirmed that Bolsonaro was in Brasilia for entrance exams at the time of his detainment.

In September, Bolsonaro received a sentence of 27 years and three months in prison for his involvement in a plot aimed at preventing leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from taking office after winning the 2022 election.

He was identified as the principal figure in the attempt to maintain his hold over power.

Interestingly, even though he has been sentenced, the court has yet to issue a final order for his arrest as he is still in the appeal process.

While under house arrest, Bolsonaro faced a ban on his social media use but was allowed visits from political supporters.

His legal team plans to seek permission for him to serve his sentence at home, pointing to various health issues as a justification.

The former president has a challenging medical history, including a stabbing incident in 2018 that led to multiple hospitalizations and surgeries.

It’s worth noting that Bolsonaro is currently banned from running for office until 2030, a decision made by Brazil’s electoral court for abusing his power during his 2022 re-election campaign.