Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered former right-wing president Jair Bolsonaro to begin serving a 27-year and three-month prison sentence for orchestrating a coup plot after losing the 2022 presidential election.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled on Tuesday that the case had reached its final, non-appealable conclusion. Bolsonaro, 70, was found guilty of leading a conspiracy to remain in power illegally after his defeat to left-wing rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro will now serve his sentence in a federal police detention facility in Brasília, where he has been held since Saturday after being deemed a flight risk, resulting in his removal from house arrest.
Attempt to Break Ankle Monitor
During a Sunday hearing, Bolsonaro admitted he had attempted to cut his ankle monitor using a welding tool before “coming to his senses,” according to court documents.
He denied intending to flee and blamed the damage on “paranoia” allegedly caused by medication.
Justice Moraes also ordered that Bolsonaro receive continuous medical care, following reports from his medical team of deteriorating health.
Plot Included Plans for Assassinations
In the ruling delivered in September, when Bolsonaro was first convicted, Supreme Court judges stated that he had prior knowledge of plans to assassinate President Lula and his running mate Geraldo Alckmin, as well as to arrest and execute Justice Moraes, who oversaw the judicial process.
The plot failed to gain support from the army and air force commanders, and Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.
However, one week later, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in Brasília. Following security forces’ intervention, around 1,500 people were arrested.
According to the court, Bolsonaro incited the protesters, hoping that the unrest would trigger a military intervention to keep him in power.
He has also been banned from running for public office until 2060, eight years after his prison term ends.
Bolsonaro described the trial as a “witch hunt” designed, in his words, to prevent him from running in the 2026 presidential elections.
