A Brazilian supreme court justice has ordered constant police surveillance for former president Jair Bolsonaro, just days before the start of a trial that could see him jailed for more than 40 years.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes agreed with a request from the prosecutor general, who cited a police report that Bolsonaro had drafted a request for political asylum in Argentina.
The far-right leader, who has been wearing an electronic ankle tag since mid-July and has been under house arrest since early August, is considered a 'risk of flight'.
The surveillance, which is to be conducted discreetly outside his Brasilia mansion, is intended to prevent him from fleeing the country.
Bolsonaro and seven of his aides are scheduled to face trial for an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2022 election.
While Bolsonaro denies the charges, legal experts believe a conviction and a severe sentence are all but certain.
The order also came in light of intensifying activity from Bolsonaro's son, congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, who is under a parallel investigation and is suspected of pressuring justices to acquit his father.
The younger Bolsonaro has been in the U.S.
since February and has claimed responsibility for persuading Donald Trump to impose tariffs on Brazil.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has also weighed in, calling Trump 'mentally ill' and Eduardo a 'scumbag'.
The pressure on the justices has also led to US sanctions against those handling the case.
The document found on Bolsonaro's phone, dated February 2024, contained a draft asylum request addressed to Argentina's president, Javier Milei.
Justice Alexandre de Moraes agreed with a request from the prosecutor general, who cited a police report that Bolsonaro had drafted a request for political asylum in Argentina.
The far-right leader, who has been wearing an electronic ankle tag since mid-July and has been under house arrest since early August, is considered a 'risk of flight'.
The surveillance, which is to be conducted discreetly outside his Brasilia mansion, is intended to prevent him from fleeing the country.
Bolsonaro and seven of his aides are scheduled to face trial for an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2022 election.
While Bolsonaro denies the charges, legal experts believe a conviction and a severe sentence are all but certain.
The order also came in light of intensifying activity from Bolsonaro's son, congressman Eduardo Bolsonaro, who is under a parallel investigation and is suspected of pressuring justices to acquit his father.
The younger Bolsonaro has been in the U.S.
since February and has claimed responsibility for persuading Donald Trump to impose tariffs on Brazil.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has also weighed in, calling Trump 'mentally ill' and Eduardo a 'scumbag'.
The pressure on the justices has also led to US sanctions against those handling the case.
The document found on Bolsonaro's phone, dated February 2024, contained a draft asylum request addressed to Argentina's president, Javier Milei.
