A Brazilian supreme court judge has ordered the house arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro for allegedly breaching “preventative measures” which were imposed amid concerns the far-right leader might abscond to avoid punishment over an alleged coup attempt.
According to the ruling on Monday by Justice Alexandre de Moraes, Bolsonaro breached a ban on using social media which was imposed last month, when he was also ordered to wear an electronic ankle tag.
Moraes wrote that as demonstrators took to the streets in several cities across the country on Sunday in support of the former president, Bolsonaro used the social media accounts of allies to share messages containing “clear encouragement and incitement to attack the Supreme Federal Court, and overt support for foreign intervention in Brazil’s judiciary”.
“There is no doubt the precautionary measure was breached,” Moraes wrote.
The justice ordered that Bolsonaro be placed under house arrest at his residence in the capital, Brasília, with visits restricted to close family members and lawyers.
Federal police were instructed to collect all mobile phones available at the property.
More details soon…
