Overview
- Federal Police detained Jair Bolsonaro at about 6 a.m. Saturday at his Brasilia residence and moved him to a special room at headquarters for high-profile detainees.
- Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the preventive arrest, citing a 12:08 a.m. alert showing an alteration to Bolsonaro’s ankle monitor and a heightened risk of escape linked to a vigil promoted by his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro.
- The ruling referenced concerns about potential obstruction during the gathering and noted the short distance from Bolsonaro’s home to the capital’s embassy district, including the U.S. mission.
- Authorities stressed the measure is preventive and not the start of his 27-year, 3-month sentence for leading a coup attempt; earlier appeals were rejected and the sentence is set to be served in a closed regime.
- Bolsonaro’s lawyers deny any attempt to break the device and seek home confinement on health grounds, while the court ordered medical oversight during his custody.