Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years in prison last September on charges of attempting to stage a military coup after losing the election, has now been ordered by the Supreme Court to begin serving his sentence. The order was issued on Tuesday (25 November).
He will serve his sentence in a 12-square-foot bedroom at a police compound in the capital, Brasília.
The 70-year-old Bolsonaro served as president of Latin America’s largest democracy from 2019 to 2022.
After losing the 2022 election, he attempted to use the military to prevent President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office. He also plotted to assassinate Lula and his running mate, Geraldo Alckmin.
However, military leaders refused to support his illegal bid to cling to power. After Lula took office, Bolsonaro and six associates were indicted. The court ruled that they tried to plunge Brazil’s democracy into darkness and push the country toward dictatorship.
On Tuesday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ruled that Bolsonaro must begin serving his sentence as the deadline to appeal the verdict has expired.
Bolsonaro had been under house arrest since August, wearing an electronic ankle monitor. He attempted to cut off the device, after which police took him into custody on Saturday.
Along with Bolsonaro, six of his associates have also been ordered to begin serving their prison sentences.
