Audio By Carbonatix
Brazil's Supreme Court has ordered that right-wing former president Jair Bolsonaro begin serving his prison sentence of 27 years and three months for plotting a coup after he lost the last election.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Tuesday ruled that the case had reached its final judgment and that no further appeals were possible.
Bolsonaro, 70, was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
He will begin serving his sentence in a federal police jail cell in the capital, Brasilia, where he has been detained since Saturday after being deemed a flight risk and removed from home detention.
At a hearing on Sunday, Bolsonaro admitted trying to open his ankle monitor with a soldering iron until he "came to his senses", court documents show.
He said he had had no intention of fleeing and blamed medicine-induced "paranoia" for damage he caused to the monitor.
Justice Moraes on Tuesday mandated that full-time medical care be given to Bolsonaro, whose medical team has previously said he is suffering from worsening health.
Supreme Court justices said in September, when Bolsonaro was found guilty of plotting a coup, that he had known of plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Moraes, who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed government buildings in BrasÃlia. The security forces intervened and about 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro, whose plan, they said, was for the military to step in and return him to power.
Bolsonaro was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the trial a "witch hunt" designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.
Justice Moraes also ordered on Tuesday that others found guilty of being Bolsonaro's co-conspirators must begin their sentences.
They include Gen Augusto Heleno, former minister for institutional security, and Gen Paulo Sérgio Nogueira de Oliveira, former defence minister.
Latest Stories
-
Greater Accra Regional Minister presents streetlights to MMDAs Â
1 second -
How gold saved the cedi in 2025
51 minutes -
A celebration of homegrown talent: Lagos meets Accra with cross-border fashion pop-up
54 minutes -
Prudential Bank empowers merchant partners with POS training in Accra and Kumasi
1 hour -
There’s a challenge in our party, and we need a bold leader to win power for us – Bryan Acheampong
1 hour -
Asantehene is a national asset – Mahama commends Otumfuo’s role in Bawku peace process
1 hour -
PruRide Accra champions health, youth empowerment and sustainability through cycling
2 hours -
Ghana set for a dazzling Christmas 2025
2 hours -
Dr. Bawumia is the overwhelming favourite in NPP primaries with 69.7% lead – new survey
2 hours -
Jospong Group donates towards Zoomlion Central Mosque completion
2 hours -
NPP delegates rate Dr. Bawumia as the candidate with the strongest leadership qualities – survey
2 hours -
Nigeria beats Ghana, Liberia and China to win ABF 2025
2 hours -
Rolihlahla Africa Law Journal debuts with five inaugural papers
2 hours -
African Athletics Championships to slated for May 12, 2026 in Accra
2 hours -
GHAFFAP advocates government support to farmers in restoration of degraded forests
2 hours
