Jair Bolsonaro Sentenced: Brazil's Ex-President to Serve 27 Years for Coup Plot, Supreme Court Rejects Appeals

Jair Bolsonaro Begins 27-Year Prison Sentence for Coup Plot

Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro has been ordered by the Supreme Court to commence a prison sentence exceeding 27 years for his role in orchestrating a coup plot following the 2022 presidential election. This significant legal development, issued on Tuesday, marks a definitive conclusion to a high-profile case that has deeply impacted the nation's political landscape.

Sentencing Details and Immediate Incarceration

Justice Alexandre de Moraes mandated Bolsonaro's immediate incarceration at Brazil's Federal Police headquarters in Brasilia. This decision comes after his detention on Saturday, when authorities reported that the former president had removed his ankle monitor with a soldering iron. Bolsonaro, however, has denied any deliberate attempt to escape, attributing his actions to the effects of anticonvulsant medication prescribed by different doctors, which he claims led him to believe the device contained a tracking mechanism.

The conviction stems from Bolsonaro's attempts to plot a coup after his defeat in the 2022 presidential election to his leftist rival, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. He was initially sentenced in September to 27 years and three months. While Justice de Moraes's individual order awaits formal approval from the Supreme Court's four-member panel, the court has already ruled that all avenues for appeal in Bolsonaro's coup-plotting case have been exhausted, thereby solidifying the guilty verdict.

Legal Team's Reaction and Past Allegations

Lawyers representing the former president, including Celso Vilardi, have expressed concerns regarding the court's swift finalization of the case. Vilardi conveyed to local newspaper Folha de S. Paulo that the court was premature in its decision and should have allowed more time for appeals. A custody hearing for Bolsonaro is scheduled for Wednesday.

This is not the first instance of detention for Bolsonaro. He had previously spent over 100 days under house arrest in Brasilia in an unrelated case concerning allegations that he sought assistance from then-U.S. President Donald Trump to interfere with his prosecution. During a Sunday custody hearing, Bolsonaro steadfastly maintained he had no intention of escaping.