Rio de Janeiro: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was taken into preventive custody on Saturday morning in Brasilia following an order issued by the Federal Supreme Court, according to initial details from the Federal Police.
Police officials said the detention is a precautionary measure requested by investigators and not the result of a sentence. Bolsonaro was arrested at approximately 6:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) and transported directly to Federal Police headquarters in the capital.
The move comes at the final stage of an investigation into an alleged coup plot. Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, had been under house arrest since August 4 after the court ordered preventive detention due to concerns over public order. As part of that process, he had received a sentence of 27 years and three months in prison.
A day earlier, Bolsonaro’s legal team submitted a request to Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes — the rapporteur overseeing the case — asking that he be allowed to remain under house arrest, citing health-related issues. The request was pending at the time of his detention.
Authorities have not announced when Bolsonaro will testify, nor have they indicated what further actions may be taken. His legal representatives have not issued additional statements regarding next steps.
Bolsonaro’s preventive custody comes amid several ongoing investigations by the Federal Supreme Court and the Federal Police involving his conduct during his presidency and after leaving office. Officials said more details will be made available once existing confidentiality orders are lifted.
