Brazil Supreme Court justice keeps Bolsonaro under house arrest
De Moraes argued in his decision that “the guarantee of public order” and the “need to ensure the comprehensive application of criminal law” justify maintaining the precautionary measures, including Bolsonaro’s house arrest and a ban on using his social media accounts. Bolsonaro, 70, has been confined to his residence in Brasilia since August 4, according to EFE.
The Supreme Court issued this and other precautionary measures in a separate case of the attempted coup trial, which was tried on September 11 and is still open to appeal. In this parallel investigation, the former head of state (2019-2022) and Congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro , one of his sons, are suspected of inciting the United States government to sanction Brazilian judges and officials in retaliation for the coup trial.
These maneuvers resulted in 50% tariffs on a large portion of Brazilian products, decreed by President Donald Trump, and the revocation of visas for several Supreme Court justices and officials in Lula’s administration, among other sanctions. However, Bolsonaro’s defense team requested the annulment of the precautionary measures after the Prosecutor’s Office filed a complaint against Eduardo Bolsonaro in court, without, for the moment, including the former president.
Bolsonaro sentenced to 27 years and 3 months
But De Moraes denied the request and also cited the former president’s “well-founded fear of flight” after police found an asylum request to the government of Argentine President Javier Milei on one of his seized phones. Last Friday, the lawyers also requested a doctor visit Bolsonaro’s home due to the “worsening of his persistent episodes of hiccups ,” a recurring problem since the stabbing he received at a rally in 2018 and which has worsened in recent months.
Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison, along with seven of his closest collaborators, including former ministers and military commanders, for “leading” a coup plot to reverse his 2022 electoral defeat and “remain in power.” The Supreme Court has yet to publish the sentence, and the period for appeals will open at that time.
