Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was preventively detained by Federal Police on Saturday, a precautionary measure distinct from his previous conviction for attempting a coup.
He was taken to the Federal Police Superintendency in Brasilia early Saturday morning, around 0900 GMT, according to Brazilian media.
The Federal Police confirmed they executed a preventive arrest warrant issued by Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court.
Authorities stressed this detention is a “cautelar,” or precautionary, measure. It does not mark the start of his previously imposed 27-year prison sentence.
The detention follows a request his defense made to the Supreme Court on Thursday, asking that Bolsonaro serve his lengthy sentence under house arrest.
Bolsonaro’s lawyers, according to a letter accessed by Brazilian outlet G1, cited grave health problems for the 70-year-old former leader. These included lasting effects from a 2018 stabbing wound.
Bolsonaro was sentenced in September to 27 years and three months in a closed-regime prison for leading an attempted coup d’état.