Bolsonaro stays in custody amid 27-year prison sentence

The wife and son of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro visited the jailed right-wing leader at the Federal Police facilities in Brasília on Thursday, 27 November, following a Supreme Court order for him to begin a 27-year, three-month prison sentence.

Bolsonaro’s wife, Michelle Bolsonaro, who had previously visited him, and his youngest son, Jair Renan Bolsonaro, making his first visit, were seen arriving at and leaving the Federal Police Superintendency. Michelle Bolsonaro posted on Instagram that she stayed for 30 minutes, writing: “These are difficult times but my heart remains in peace because the Lord continues in control.”

The 70-year-old former president has been held at the Federal Police complex since Saturday, 22 November, after attempting to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor while under house arrest in a separate case. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, overseeing the case, ordered Bolsonaro to begin serving his sentence on Tuesday, 25 November, and ruled that he will remain at the Federal Police headquarters rather than being transferred to a maximum-security or military prison.

Bolsonaro told an assistant judge that a recent change in his medication for chronic hiccups caused a nervous breakdown and hallucinations, which prompted his attempt to break the electronic ankle bracelet. He is currently confined to a 12-square-metre cell and has received visits from his wife and two of his sons.

The Supreme Court rejected a defence request to allow him to serve his sentence under house arrest, citing the attempted tampering as evidence of a potential flight risk.

Bolsonaro was sentenced in September for orchestrating a coup following his defeat to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the 2022 election. According to the court, the scheme allegedly included plans to assassinate President Lula and Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, though it was not carried out due to a lack of support from senior military officials.

Previously, Bolsonaro had spent over 100 days under house arrest in Brasília amid allegations that he sought US intervention to halt criminal proceedings against him.

Jair Renan Bolsonaro told reporters outside the police facility: “All politicians elected thanks to Jair Bolsonaro are doing their best for him and to free him.” He also described his efforts to support his father emotionally: “We chat about soccer, about my life as his son. I try to distract him, always talking to him, trying to cheer him up and make him smile.”

Protesters were seen outside the Federal Police headquarters, with some holding signs comparing Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes to Roland Freisler, the notorious Nazi-era judge.

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