Minister Alexandre de Moraes, from the STF, rejected this Monday (13) the request from Jair Bolsonaro’s defense to revoke house arrest and other restrictions.
Moraes justified maintaining house arrest based on two central points: the risk of escape and the history of disobedience to judicial measures. For him, these circumstances threaten the effective application of criminal law and the credibility of the judicial system.
The former president is facing investigation for obstruction of justice and threatening the democratic order. According to investigations, he had worked with his son Eduardo Bolsonaro to pressure American authorities to harass figures in the Brazilian Judiciary.
The minister included, among the precautions maintained, the prohibition of Bolsonaro from using a cell phone or social media, and preventing his contact with foreign diplomats. Furthermore, he cannot receive visits without authorization from the Supreme Court, with the exception of lawyers.
Bolsonaro has already been sentenced by the STF to 27 years and 3 months in prison for attempted coup d’état and other crimes. However, the execution of the sentence is still suspended due to pending appeals and definition of the initial regime.
In an attempt to revoke the measures, lawyers Celso Vilardi and Paulo Cunha Bueno argued that Bolsonaro was not denounced in the obstruction investigation. Therefore, they claim that the precautionary measures would lack a minimum basis. Moraes rejected this argument, maintaining that the signs and risks persist.
Laura Basílio under the supervision of Thiago San.
