Brazilian Supreme Court Agrees To Arrest Former President Bolsonaro

Jair Bolsonaro. (Wikimedia Commons/Palurco do Planlih)

JAKARTA - Brazil's Supreme Court unanimously upheld the preemptive arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro on Monday, following his attempt to remove his electronic ankleband over the weekend using a solder while under house arrest.

Bolsonaro (70) was arrested early Saturday and is currently being held at the headquarters of the federal police in Bras Julilia.

He has been under house arrest since August, awaiting a stipulation where he will serve a 27-year prison sentence for his failed 2022 coup, an attempt to remain in office after losing to the presidential election to Luiz Inrypto Lula da Silva.

A panel consisting of four people at the Supreme Court unanimously approved the continuation of preemptive arrests.

Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who issued an initial arrest warrant on Saturday, considers Bolsonaro at risk of escaping and citing violations of judicial restrictions.

In his ruling, he noted Bolsonaro claimed to have damaged the ankle monitoring apparatus, calling it "serious fraud, repeated non-compliance with preventive measures, and clearly disrespecting the court," Anadolu reported November 25.

Bolsonaro told the assistant judge on Sunday that changes in his treatment for chronic monuments caused him to experience neurological disorders and hallucinations, prompting him to try to damage his ankle monitoring device.

The former president was previously barred from using social media and received guests without permission.

The Supreme Court's First Panel reviewed and unanimously rejected the final appeal of all defendants convicted in the coup plot case.

The verdict is now considered almost final. The defense has a very limited legal choice, especially procedural motions that question negligence or ambiguity in the ruling, instead of the verdict itself. These motions are expected to be rejected by Judge Moreas soon.

Setelah mosi terakhir ini ditolak secara resmi, pengadilan kemungkinan akan memerintahkan Bolsonaro dan enam orang lainnya untuk mulai menjalani hukuman mereka.