Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, has been taken into custody following allegations he attempted to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor using a soldering iron in a bid to escape house arrest.
The Arrest and Allegations
The Brazil Supreme Court ordered the detention of the 70-year-old former leader early on Saturday, 22nd November 2025. Bolsonaro, who was convicted in September for leading a coup attempt after losing the 2022 election, had been serving a sentence of 27 years in prison under house arrest.
He was subsequently transported to the federal police headquarters in the nation's capital, Brasilia. Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, presiding over the case, stated that the ankle monitor, fitted in July after Bolsonaro was deemed a flight risk, showed clear signs of interference.
Evidence of Tampering and Motive
Official court documents detailed that the device displayed "clear and significant signs of malfunction" and was marked with burns. Justice de Moraes asserted that this was a deliberate act to facilitate an escape, potentially timed to coincide with a demonstration organised by one of Bolsonaro's sons, which would have created public confusion.
The ruling also highlighted concerns that Bolsonaro might seek political asylum at an embassy located near his residence, referencing other defendants in the coup case who have already fled the country.
Bolsonaro's legal team has formally denied all allegations regarding the tampering of the monitoring device.
Political Repercussions and Next Steps
The Supreme Court panel is scheduled to hold an extraordinary session on Monday to vote on Justice de Moraes's order for arrest. The justice also cited a video published by the former president's son, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, which he said encouraged disrespect for democratic institutions.
Meanwhile, supporters of Bolsonaro, who claim he is a victim of political persecution, have gathered outside the federal police headquarters in protest. Bolsonaro, who was president from 2019 to 2022, had exhausted his appeals and was expected to begin serving his full prison sentence imminently.
