The Brazilian supreme judge Alexandre de Moraes has imposed former President Jair Bolsonaro house arrest on Monday, reporting international press agencies. He is also no longer allowed to use his phone and, in addition to his lawyers, only receive visitors after special permission from the Supreme Court.
The extreme right -wing Bolsonaro is on trial for planning a coup after the elections of the end of 2022 and receives house arrest because he does not adhere to the conditions that apply to him. He was already wearing an ankle band and it was forbidden to use social media.
According to De Moraes, statements by his sons Flávio and Eduardo on social media were a way for Bolsonaro to come out under that social media ban. The Supreme Court states that he is also not allowed to use social media ‘through others’.
Mobile phone seized
A spokesperson for Bolsonaro reports to Reuters news agency that he was actually placed by the police under house arrest on Monday afternoon and that a mobile phone has been seized from him.
The house arrest for Bolsonaro can further increase tensions between the United States and Brazil. His persecution was already a reason for US President Donald Trump to impose Brazil import duties of 50 percent, much more than to most other countries. According to Trump, there is “a witch hunt” on Bolsonaro.
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