Former Brazilian President Bolsonaro Taken Into Preventive Custody Amid Coup Plot Investigation

Rio de Janeiro, Nov 2025 : Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was taken into preventive custody by police in Brasília on Saturday morning following an order issued by the Federal Supreme Court.

According to preliminary information provided by the Federal Police, the detention is not a punitive measure but a precautionary action requested by investigators. Bolsonaro was picked up around 6:00 a.m. local time (0900 GMT) and transported directly to the Federal Police headquarters in the capital.

The arrest marks a significant development in the final phase of an ongoing investigation into an alleged coup attempt in Brazil. Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, had been under house arrest since August 4 after the Supreme Court ordered preventive detention on grounds of maintaining public order. As part of related legal proceedings, he had previously been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison.

On Friday, Bolsonaro’s legal team submitted a request to Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes — the rapporteur overseeing the case — seeking permission for the former president to continue under house arrest, citing health concerns. That request, however, was overtaken by Saturday’s arrest order.

So far, authorities have not announced when Bolsonaro will testify, nor have they clarified whether additional investigative actions will take place throughout the day. His lawyers have also not issued any updated statements regarding their next legal steps.

The preventive custody order comes at a time when Bolsonaro is facing several inquiries initiated both by the Federal Supreme Court and the Federal Police concerning actions taken during his presidency and in the period following his departure from office. Judicial authorities noted that more details will be made public once the confidentiality orders tied to the investigations are lifted.

Bolsonaro’s arrest adds a new layer of tension to Brazil’s already charged political climate, as investigations continue into the events that followed the 2022 elections and the alleged attempts to undermine democratic institutions.