Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro after he allegedly tried to break his ankle monitor to escape his 27-year prison sentence
Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after allegedly attempting to break his ankle monitor with a soldering iron in a bid to flee house arrest, according to a report from SKY NEWS.
Court documents cited by the outlet state that the device showed “burn marks” and signs of tampering, prompting Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes—who oversees the coup conviction case—to order his detention on Saturday. Bolsonaro, sentenced to 27 years for leading a 2022 coup attempt, was taken to the federal police headquarters in Brasilia as the court considers the order in an upcoming extraordinary session.
Justice de Moraes also warned of the possibility that Bolsonaro might seek asylum in a nearby embassy, referencing similar actions by other defendants. His lawyers denied the tampering claims, while supporters gathered outside police headquarters, alleging political persecution.