Bolsonaro Detained After Attempt to Tamper with Electronic Monitoring
Brasília, Brazil – November 23, 2024 - Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is in pre-trial detention after authorities discovered he attempted to disable his electronic monitoring bracelet, escalating a legal saga stemming from a conviction for attempted coup d’état. The move, ordered Saturday, November 22nd, comes two months after Bolsonaro was sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison.
The dramatic turn of events unfolded overnight between Friday and Saturday. At 12:08 AM local time, an alert was triggered by Bolsonaro’s ankle monitor while he was under house arrest. Police immediately responded to his residence, a luxury property east of Brasília, to investigate.
Upon arrival, officers found important damage to the device, with clear evidence of intentional tampering. Investigators reported extensive burn marks and deterioration around the bracelet’s entire circumference, leading them to conclude Bolsonaro attempted to destroy it – likely using an electric knife or soldering iron.
The attempted disabling of the monitoring device prompted the justice system to revoke Bolsonaro’s house arrest and order his immediate detention. Authorities suspect the former president was preparing to flee before the full execution of his sentence.
The case centers around allegations that Bolsonaro attempted to undermine Brazil’s democratic institutions following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. Further details are expected to emerge as the investigation continues.
