Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into police custody in Brasilia after months under house arrest while appealing a 27-year sentence for attempting to overturn the 2022 election.
His lawyer confirmed the detention but offered no explanation, which came just hours before supporters planned a vigil outside Bolsonaro’s home.
According to Reuters, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered the arrest over concerns that crowds could obstruct police monitoring and cited evidence that Bolsonaro’s ankle monitor had been tampered with the previous night.
The judge also warned the gathering could enable an escape attempt, noting earlier indications Bolsonaro had considered seeking asylum in the Argentine embassy. Federal police said the former president has already completed custody intake procedures.
Bolsonaro, 70, denies any wrongdoing and claims political persecution. His case has drawn international attention, with former US President Donald Trump calling the prosecution a “witch hunt,” though the US has recently begun reversing tariffs imposed in response to the situation.
