The Federal Supreme Court of Brazil has tightened the precautionary measures against the environment of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Judge Alexandre de Moraes ordered the placement of 10 former officials convicted of the 2022 coup attempt under house arrest, due to an imminent risk of flight. The ruling comes after the scandal involving Silvinei Vasques, former head of the Federal Highway Police, who was captured in Paraguay while trying to escape to El Salvador with a fake passport, as reported by the Argentine News Agency.
Details of the judicial measure:
Domino effect: Following the arrest of Vasques and the flight to the United States of Alexandre Ramagem (former head of intelligence), the Brazilian justice system decided to round up the other convicts who were still awaiting the execution of their sentences in freedom.
Key figures: Among those affected by the measure is Filipe Martins, former international affairs advisor to Bolsonaro, along with former military personnel and former officials from the Ministry of Justice.
Severe restrictions: Those involved must wear electronic ankle bracelets, surrender their passports, and are prohibited from using social networks or maintaining contact with each other.
Bolsonaro's judicial front: While his inner circle is confined, former President Jair Bolsonaro — sentenced to 27 years in prison — remains hospitalized in a Brasília hospital after being surgically intervened for gastric complications and a hernia.
With this move, Brazil's highest court seeks to prevent those responsible for the coup plot from evading justice, in a climate of extreme vigilance over the cross-border movements of the former head of state's allies.
