After judges on Friday denied his appeal against a 27-year sentence for a failed coup attempt, Brazil’s far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro is running out of ways to escape going to jail.
After losing the 2022 elections, Bolsonaro was found guilty in September of trying to stop President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva from entering office.
The scheme, which included intentions to kill Lula and a prominent Supreme Court justice, only failed, according to prosecutors, because military senior brass did not approve it.
A panel of Supreme Court judges weighing Bolsonaro’s appeal all voted to uphold the sentence last week. The result was not considered official until midnight on Friday.
A source at the court, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that once the result of the hearing is published — which could take place as early as Monday — the defense will have five days to submit a new appeal.
However, this appeal can be “quickly” quashed by lead judge Alexandre de Moraes, who will then publish the final judgment.
“Generally, after the publication of the final judgment, the arrest warrant is issued on the same day” by the lead judge, and it is Moraes who will decide where the arrest happens, explained Thiago Bottino, a professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation Law School.
According to court procedure timetables, the court source anticipated that Bolsonaro might be imprisoned within the final week of November.
Since August, the 70-year-old former army captain—who insists he is innocent—has been placed under house arrest.
He may choose to serve his sentence at home due to health issues resulting from a stabbing in 2018.
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