Brazil's Supreme Court indefinitely extends Bolsonaro's house arrest period

Brazil's Supreme Court has indefinitely extended the house arrest leniency granted three months ago to former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was sentenced to 27 years and 3 months in prison for attempting a coup. The decision was issued by Judge Alexandre de Moraes, who is conducting the trial; Moraes stated that he made this decision considering the sensitivity of the former president's health and humanitarian reasons due to him being 71 years old. The Court took into account medical reports that determined that a home environment is the most suitable place for the treatment of Bolsonaro's lung infection and the improvement of his general health condition.

Instead of setting a specific calendar for the house arrest period, Judge Moraes emphasized that this period would last for the "time necessary" for Bolsonaro to fully recover. According to medical reports, due to the weaker immune system in elderly individuals, the complete healing of the lung infection may take 45 to 90 days, and it is essential that this process be spent in a controlled environment, i.e., at home. During this period, it was decided that Bolsonaro would be kept under monitoring and restriction, but allowed to receive treatment in a more flexible environment than cell conditions.

Although the decision stated that this leniency, granted upon the request of the defense, was not tied to certain conditions, a new obligation was introduced regarding the weapons in Bolsonaro's possession. The Court ordered Bolsonaro's lawyers to surrender ten weapons registered in the former president's name (including pistols, hunting rifles, and carbines) to the Federal Police within 48 hours. This situation also includes the prosecution's assessment of a "serious crime" regarding allegations that he previously carried a seized pistol without authorization.

Bolsonaro had previously been serving his sentence in a special room at the Federal Police Superintendency in Brasilia since late November, and from January onwards in a prison complex in the capital. However, his detention conditions were changed because his health deteriorated during his time in the cell and he frequently had to go to the hospital. The root of his health problems lies in the long-term complications caused by the stabbing attack he suffered in the abdominal region during the 2018 election campaign.

The former president's health condition remains serious, particularly due to the continuous crises he experienced recently and the resulting bronchopneumonia (lung infection). The medical team states that this infection developed as a result of stomach contents escaping into the lungs (bronchoaspiration) due to vomiting following the severe crises he suffered. It was reported that if Bolsonaro complies with the house arrest conditions and surrenders his weapons, his infection and general health condition will be monitored.