Brazil’s Bolsonaro arrested ‘preventively’ ahead of prison term

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was arrested “preventatively” before the start of his next prison sentence, media in the South American country reported on Saturday.

This is not an execution of the sentence handed down by the Supreme Federal Court for attempted coup d’état, but a measure aimed at “guaranteeing public order”, according to the G1 news site and others.

There was an “increased risk of flight” because Bolsonaro, 70, allegedly violated the conditions of his electronic ankle bracelet, the outlet cited federal judge Alexandre de Moraes as saying.

Bolsonaro was sentenced to more than 27 years in prison in September or face a coup attempt following his 2022 election defeat. However, the verdict is not yet final. Observers believed he could begin serving his sentence next week.

On Friday, Bolsonaro’s son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, called for an all-night vigil in front of his father’s house.

According to G1, police called the planned gathering of Bolsonaro supporters a risk for both participants and law enforcement.

Bolsonaro was reportedly arrested around 6 a.m. (1000 GMT) in Brasilia and taken to the federal police headquarters, where he was placed in a special room for former heads of state and government officials.

The ex-president had already been under house arrest since August for violating court decisions.

The police said on Saturday morning that they had “executed an arrest warrant for pre-trial detention in accordance with a decision of the Federal Supreme Court”, but did not name the former president.

Bolsonaro’s defense team had requested Friday that the sentence be served under house arrest, citing their client’s health problems.