Brazilian Supreme Court Orders House Arrest for Ex-President Bolsonaro in Attempted Coup Case
The Supreme Court of Brazil has taken a significant step in its investigation into actions that threaten the country's democratic order by issuing a court order to place former President Jair Bolsonaro under house arrest.
Judge Alexandre de Moraes mandated this detention following violations of court-imposed preventive measures and restrictions on social media usage.
The decision stemmed from Bolsonaro’s activities on August 3, when he allegedly used supporter accounts on social networks to spread violent calls and incite attacks on the Supreme Federal Court, while openly criticizing the judiciary and even supporting foreign interference in Brazil’s sovereignty.Law enforcement reports state that despite prohibitions, Bolsonaro actively participated in public demonstrations and had brief interactions that violated court restrictions, including using the phone during protests and attempting to communicate with supporters directly.
His family members also tried to conceal these violations by deleting posts and videos related to his activities.
The police confiscated all of Bolsonaro’s mobile devices, and visitors have been barred from using phones or recording during meetings.
Judge Moraes emphasized that Bolsonaro’s son, Flávio, went as far as temporarily activating his father during a public event to address supporters, only to later delete the video to cover up the breach.
The investigation is grounded on an extensive 884-page report presenting concrete evidence of Bolsonaro’s direct involvement in preparing a coup attempt aimed at overturning the 2022 election results, which he lost.
If convicted, Bolsonaro faces over 40 years in prison on charges of attempted overthrow of constitutional order, violence, and the formation of a criminal organization.