Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former president Jair Bolsonaro to start serving a 27-year prison sentence after the court confirmed that all his appeals have been exhausted.
Bolsonaro, 70, was convicted in September for attempting to block President-elect Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from assuming office after the 2022 elections. Prosecutors said the plot included plans to assassinate Lula, but the scheme collapsed when top military leaders refused to support it.
The former army captain, once a dominant force in Brazil’s right-wing politics, is now confined to a small room at police headquarters in Brasilia. The space includes a bed, air-conditioning, a TV, and a mini-fridge.
Ankle Monitor Tampering Led to Arrest
Bolsonaro had been under house arrest, but authorities detained him after discovering he had tampered with his ankle monitor using a soldering iron. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said there were “serious signs” he was preparing to flee, pointing to a planned vigil outside his home and the proximity of the U.S. Embassy. Bolsonaro has close ties to former U.S. president Donald Trump, raising concerns he might seek asylum.
Bolsonaro denied trying to escape and said he acted out of “paranoia” caused by medication. He earlier claimed he used the soldering iron on the device out of simple “curiosity.”
Where He Will Serve His Time
The Supreme Court ordered that Bolsonaro remain in a secure officers’ room meant for protected detainees. The court also instructed a military tribunal to determine whether he should lose his rank of army captain.
His lawyer, Paulo Cunha Bueno, called the decision unexpected and said he would still file another appeal, despite the court declaring the ruling final.
Claims of Poor Health
Bolsonaro’s defense team argued he should be allowed to serve his sentence at home due to medical problems, including complications from a 2018 stabbing and ongoing gastric issues that cause chronic hiccups and fainting spells. The court rejected the request.
His family says he is in bad shape. After visiting him, his son Carlos Bolsonaro described him as “extremely fragile and psychologically devastated,” adding that he was barely eating.
Political Impact
Bolsonaro continues to insist he is innocent and claims he is the target of political persecution. His imprisonment leaves Brazil’s conservative bloc without a clear leader ahead of the 2026 presidential elections, where Lula, now 80, has said he plans to run again.
Lula himself spent 18 months in prison for corruption before the Supreme Court overturned his conviction.