Bolsonaro leaves house arrest for the first time for medical exams on Saturday

Former President Jair Bolsonaro (PL) will undergo medical exams on Saturday in Brasília after experiencing recurring bouts of hiccups. His defense requested authorization from Minister Alexandre de Moraes of the Supreme Federal Court (STF) for him to temporarily leave house arrest and undergo the medical procedures. Bolsonaro was taken from his home to Hospital DF Star wearing an electronic ankle bracelet, with the Department of Penitentiary Administration of the Federal District (Seape-DF) monitoring his compliance with the imposed measures. According to the STF’s decision, the former president must provide a hospital attendance certificate to the court within 48 hours of the exams. This will be the first time Bolsonaro leaves his residence since being placed under house arrest on August 4 by Moraes. His health worsened three days later, prompting his defense to request frequent medical monitoring. The scheduled exams include endoscopy, tomography, ultrasonography, and echocardiogram, expected to last between six and eight hours. Depending on the results, further evaluations or additional treatments may be recommended. The day before the authorization for the exams, the President of the First Chamber of the STF, Minister Cristiano Zanin, scheduled the trial of Bolsonaro and seven other defendants from the so-called ‘núcleo 1’ of the coup plot for September. The sessions will take place on September 2, 3, 9, 10, and 12. The first four days will hold morning sessions (from 9 am to 12 pm), with the afternoon session on the 12th (from 2 pm to 7 pm). There are also regular sessions scheduled for the afternoons of September 2 and 9. The case relates to the accusation of attempted coup, filed by the Attorney General’s Office. Bolsonaro’s house arrest, however, was decreed in another investigation, probing alleged coercion against the Brazilian judiciary with the United States and a threat to national sovereignty.