Former President Jair Bolsonaro Sentenced to Over 24 Years and Preventively Arrested by Federal Police
Jair Bolsonaro receives a 24-year prison sentence for multiple crimes linked to an attempted coup and is preventively arrested by Federal Police due to flight risk concerns.
- • Jair Bolsonaro sentenced to 24 years and 9 months for crimes including attempted coup and being part of an armed criminal organization.
- • Federal Police conducted a discreet preventive arrest due to risk of flight after Bolsonaro violated electronic monitoring.
- • The arrest was peaceful, with Bolsonaro cooperating fully and no use of handcuffs.
- • Other members of the criminal organization were also sentenced, with the exception of one federal deputy.
- • Bolsonaro's arrest continues Brazil's recent trend of former presidents facing imprisonment.
Key details
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to a total of 24 years and 9 months in prison for multiple crimes associated with an attempted violent abolition of the democratic state and an attempted coup. The sentence includes 7 years and 7 months for participation in an armed criminal organization, 6 years and 6 months for attempting to violently abolish the democratic state, and 8 years and 2 months for the attempted coup, alongside additional penalties for property damage. The sentencing judge, Alexandre de Moraes, ordered a detention regime and imposed fines reflective of Bolsonaro's financial means, considering that he had received over R$40 million in donations via Pix. Moraes also took the former president's age, 70, into account, moderating the sentence accordingly.
On November 22, 2025, the Federal Police executed a preventive arrest warrant against Bolsonaro in Brasília, acting discreetly to avoid public exposure or unrest. The arrest stemmed from concerns over Bolsonaro's risk of flight after violating electronic monitoring protocols with an ankle bracelet, not from the commencement of his sentence. Federal agents arrived just before 6 AM, and Bolsonaro, present with family members at the time, cooperated without resistance. He was promptly taken to the Federal Police Superintendency and underwent a body examination without being handcuffed.
This preventive arrest forms part of broader investigations into the attempted coup, underscoring the high stakes involving Bolsonaro and his supporters. Notably, all core members of the alleged criminal organization faced sanctions, except federal deputy Alexandre Ramagem, who was convicted on fewer charges.
In a wider context, Bolsonaro's arrest follows a pattern of former Brazilian presidents facing imprisonment in recent years. Alongside Bolsonaro, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Michel Temer, and Fernando Collor have had legal troubles resulting in detention or house arrest, signaling a turbulent era in Brazil's political and judicial history.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.