BRASILIA: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was taken into federal police custody on Saturday, his lawyer told Reuters, ending months of house arrest as he appealed a Supreme Court conviction for attacks on Brazil’s democracy.
Bolsonaro’s attorney did not give a reason for the detention. A person familiar with the matter said it was a preventative measure related to the terms of his house arrest.
The former right-wing leader was sentenced in September to 27 years and three months in prison for to plotting a coup to remain in power after losing the 2022 election to leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
Bolsonaro was identified as the leader and main beneficiary of a scheme to prevent Lula from taking office in 2023.
For more than 100 days, Bolsonaro has been under strict house arrest for violating precautionary measures in a separate case over allegedly courting US interference to halt the criminal case against him.
