Bolsonaro begins serving 27-year prison sentence over coup plot

Brazil’s Supreme Court has mandated that former President Jair Bolsonaro begin serving a 27-year sentence for attempting to retain power after losing the 2022 election. The court dismissed his appeal challenging the sentence. Bolsonaro, already in custody for tampering with his ankle monitor, claimed his actions were due to “hallucinations” and “paranoia.”

His defense team requested house arrest due to health issues, but the court denied the request due to flight risk concerns. Bolsonaro’s conviction was based on evidence of a conspiracy to overturn the election and plans to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. While analysts expect a potential shift to house arrest, the timeline remains uncertain.