Jair Bolsonaro, former president of Brazil, has been ordered to commence a 27-year and three-month prison sentence. The order stems from his conviction in September for leading a conspiracy to remain in power following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Imprisonment Details
Bolsonaro, aged 70, will begin serving his sentence in a federal police detention facility located in BrasÃlia, the nation's capital. His transfer to this facility occurred on Saturday, subsequent to a court deeming him a flight risk and revoking his home detention status.
Legal Ruling
Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the ruling on Tuesday, stating that the legal proceedings had reached their conclusive judgment, precluding any further appeals in the case.
Conviction Background
The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at invalidating the results of the 2022 election. Court documents from the September conviction indicated that Bolsonaro was aware of plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin. The plot also included intentions to arrest and execute Justice Moraes, who presided over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy ultimately failed to secure the necessary support from the Brazilian army and air force commanders. Consequently, Lula was inaugurated as president without incident on January 1, 2023.
Post-Election Unrest
One week after the inauguration, on January 8, 2023, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in BrasÃlia. Security forces intervened, leading to approximately 1,500 arrests. Supreme Court justices determined that Bolsonaro had incited these rioters, with their actions understood as an attempt to prompt military intervention to restore him to power.
Additional Penalties and Statements
In addition to the prison sentence, Bolsonaro has been barred from holding public office until 2060, a period extending eight years beyond the conclusion of his current sentence.
During a hearing on Sunday, Bolsonaro admitted to attempting to open his ankle monitor with a soldering iron, attributing the action to "medicine-induced paranoia" and asserting he had no intention of fleeing. He has previously characterized the trial as a "witch hunt" designed to prevent his candidacy in the 2026 presidential election.
Justice Moraes has mandated the provision of full-time medical care for Bolsonaro, whose medical team has reported a decline in his health.