Brazil Court Allows Jair Bolsonaro Temporary Release for Hernia Surgery
Ex-president approved for temporary release amid health concerns.
Brazil's Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes has authorized former President Jair Bolsonaro, currently serving a 27-year sentence for orchestrating a coup attempt, to temporarily leave prison for hernia surgery. The decision, announced on Friday, follows confirmation by federal police medical experts that the procedure is necessary. The surgery date remains undisclosed, reflecting ongoing health issues stemming from a 2018 stabbing attack during his presidential campaign.
The bilateral inguinal hernia causes significant pain in both groins, according to medical reports. Bolsonaro, who held office from 2019 to 2022, has undergone multiple surgeries related to the abdominal injury sustained in the assassination attempt. Justice de Moraes, who presided over the coup trial, rejected a separate request for house arrest post-surgery, ensuring Bolsonaro's return to custody afterward.
Bolsonaro is detained at the federal police headquarters in Brasília, isolated from other inmates in a 12-square-meter cell equipped with basic amenities including a bed, private bathroom, air conditioning, television, and desk. He maintains unrestricted access to physicians and legal counsel, while additional visitors require Supreme Court approval.
The former leader and several allies were convicted by Supreme Court justices for plotting to undermine democracy after his 2022 election loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The scheme allegedly involved assassination plans targeting Lula, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and de Moraes himself, alongside efforts to incite insurrection in early 2023.
Bolsonaro continues to deny all allegations of wrongdoing, maintaining his innocence throughout the proceedings that led to charges including leading an armed criminal organization and attempting to violently overthrow democratic institutions.
Also Read: Former President Bolsonaro Begins 27-Year Prison Sentence Over Failed Coup Attempt
