Bolsonaro arrested: Police to check cars leaving former president’s house and prevent ‘possibility of escape’, Moraes decides

Minister Alexandre de Moraes, from the STF, has decided to intensify the monitoring of former president Jair Bolsonaro, who has been under house arrest since August 4th. In his decision, Minister Moraes mentions the need to prevent any chance of escape. The new measures established include inspecting vehicles, including their trunks, leaving Bolsonaro’s residence and monitoring the external area. All vehicles exiting the residence will be checked and documented with details of the vehicles, drivers, and passengers. There will also be ‘on-site’ monitoring in the external area of the residence to prevent escape attempts.

By authorizing monitoring in the external area, Moraes considers information from the Secretariat of Penitentiary Administration of the Federal District, which pointed out ‘blind spots’ due to neighboring properties. The decision comes ahead of Bolsonaro’s trial in a case where he is accused of attempting a coup. This trial is scheduled to start on Tuesday (2/9). Moraes previously authorized continuous monitoring of Jair Bolsonaro’s house arrest, with surveillance conducted 24 hours a day by the Federal District Penitentiary Police.

The previous measures suggested by the Procuradoria-Geral da República (PGR) were deemed insufficient by Congressman Lindbergh Farias, who highlighted the risk of Bolsonaro fleeing the country. Farias mentioned a draft of a political asylum request to the Argentine government found on Bolsonaro’s cell phone. The document was saved in Bolsonaro’s phone in 2024, suggesting a plan to seek refuge with Viktor Orbán in Hungary. Additionally, Farias raised concerns about Bolsonaro trying to escape to the United States Embassy, located a short distance from his home.

In response, the PGR stressed the need for a more assertive approach in monitoring the former president. With the trial approaching, Moraes emphasized the increased risk of escape given the evidence gathered by the Federal Police. The proximity of the trial on the coup attempt heightens the necessity for monitoring Bolsonaro closely to prevent any possible attempts to flee the country. As per Moraes, measures to monitor Bolsonaro are essential based on gathered evidence and reports indicating a renewed risk of escape.