The former president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, was detained this Saturday by the Federal Police at his residence in Brasília, in a swift operation authorized by the Supreme Federal Court.
Authorities argued that Bolsonaro violated his electronic monitoring, “a rupture of the ankle monitor was detected at 12:08 a.m.”, could have compromised his house arrest. In addition, Judge Alexandre de Moraes warned that a vigil organized by his son Flávio Bolsonaro could generate chaos and facilitate his escape.
Bolsonaro was recently sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison for attempting to remain in power through a coup plot. In this new phase, the arrest does not imply the immediate start of his sentence but rather a preventive measure in response to the risks of flight and disruption of public order.
What is the purpose of this preventive arrest?
The detention responds to fears that Bolsonaro, taking advantage of the vigil called by his supporters and after tampering with his ankle monitor, could evade justice.