Khaberni - The federal police in Brazil arrested the former president Jair Bolsonaro today, Saturday, as reported by his lawyers who submitted a petition yesterday to allow him to serve his 27-year imprisonment sentence for planning a coup in house arrest, citing his deteriorating health condition.
One of the lawyers told Reuters that his client was detained by the federal police today, Saturday, thereby ending months of house arrest, following an appeal of his conviction by the Supreme Court on charges of assaulting Brazilian democracy.
Bolsonaro's lawyer did not provide a reason for the detention. An informed source said it was a precautionary measure related to the conditions of his house arrest.
Yesterday, Friday, Bolsonaro's lawyers submitted a petition to the Supreme Court requesting that he serve his prison sentence under house arrest, citing his deteriorating health.
The lawyers confirmed that Bolsonaro's medical reports indicate his need for precise blood pressure and heart rate measurements, periodic examinations, specific medications, in addition to frequent visits from multiple specialized doctors, including a cardiologist, a lung specialist, and a gastroenterologist.
In the petition, which was reviewed by the Associated Press, the lawyers stated, "If the petitioner is sent to prison, his health will be at risk and he will not receive the medical care he needs."
They also referred to a recent inspection conducted by the Attorney General's office, which reported that the conditions in a detention center in Brasilia, where he might be ordered to serve his sentence, are fraught with dangers.
The former right-wing leader was sentenced in September to 27 years and 3 months in prison for planning a coup to stay in power after losing the 2022 elections to the left-wing president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro has been under strict house arrest for over 100 days due to violating precautionary measures in a separate case related to allegations of him trying to involve American intervention to stop the criminal case against him.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who was a friend of Bolsonaro when both were in power, described the case as a "vicious campaign." He imposed sanctions on Morais, the judge overseeing the case, and levied a 50% tariff on U.S. imports of many Brazilian goods, which he started to lift this month.
During his house arrest, Bolsonaro was banned from using social media but received visits from his political allies. His defense is expected to request permission to keep him under house arrest and has pointed out several health issues.
