A doctor and three defense lawyers for former president Jair Bolsonaro arrived at the Federal Police Superintendence, this Sunday morning (23), before the virtual custody hearing took place. The professionals did not speak to the journalists working in front of the building.
The former president was detained this Saturday (22), at around 6:30 am (Brasília time), by decision of the Minister of the Federal Supreme Court (STF), Alexandre de Moraes, who alleged a possible escape attempt and violation of the electronic ankle bracelet to justify preventive detention.
Bolsonaro was taken to the Federal Police Superintendence yesterday, where he underwent a forensic examination at the National Institute of Criminalistics. The examination did not reveal any complaints from the former president, who apparently was in a normal state, accompanied by his lawyer during the procedure. Since then, he has remained in pre-trial detention.
Supporters
This Sunday morning, around two dozen supporters of the former president braved scattered rain to ask for Bolsonaro’s release in front of the main entrance of the PF Superintendenceat the end of the south wing, central neighborhood of Brasília.
Protesters held Brazilian flags and a banner that asked drivers to honk their horns against Bolsonaro’s detention. A small speaker played the song What Country is This?from the band Legião Urbana.
Retired Marcos Moreno de Oliveira, son of a retired soldier, was one of the protesters. Under a bus stop, to protect himself from the rain, Marcos said that the arrest “was engineered” and that, in his opinion, there would be no chance of escape, since the former president’s residence was monitored by court order:
“I stopped by to see how the movement is going. I’m here for my country, defending my nation, as a patriot that I am, Brazilian, son of a soldier, former combatant in the Second World War.”
Alongside Marcos, retired Sandra Reis went to the PF Superintendency accompanied by a friend and her pet. For her, Jair Bolsonaro was unjustly arrested. Asked by the report Brazil Agency about the ankle monitor violation, she cited a desire for freedom
“I think he was feeling anguish, wanting to free himself because it’s so annoying to have the ankle bracelet on. He wasn’t looking for an escape, but a little freedom,” she said, admitting that it’s not fair to try to escape in that way.
The person who saw a business opportunity was Luiz Silva, who works as a street vendor in his spare time. He brought cold water and soft drinks to sell to protesters.
“I just took the opportunity to come here and sell drinks. I thought it would be a good move, but it’s not. I’m just going to stay a little longer,” said Luiz, who preferred not to take a political stance.
Understand
The former president was preventively arrested this Saturday (22) by the Federal Police, in response to a request that asked the Federal Supreme Court to replace house arrest with custody at the PF Superintendence.
The former president used a soldering iron on the electronic ankle bracelet, which damaged part of the equipment. The information is in a report from the State Secretariat for Penitentiary Administration of the Federal District (Seap) sent to the Federal Supreme Court (STF) along with a video in which Bolsonaro himself admits to using a soldering iron motivated by “curiosity”.
This preventive detention does not constitute the execution of the sentence for his conviction to 27 years and three months in prison for criminal organization, qualified damage to the Union’s property, deterioration of listed property and attempted coup d’état.
This is a precautionary measure adopted due to the risk of ex-president Jair Bolsonaro fleeing.
Bolsonaro is accommodated in a 12 square meter (m²) room, equipped with a bed, air conditioning, bathroom and television.
