Jair Bolsonaro to Undergo Hernia Surgery, Temporary Prison Release Granted
SAO PAULO (AP) — Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has received approval to temporarily leave prison for a hernia surgery. Currently serving a 27-year sentence for an attempted coup, Bolsonaro’s surgery date remains undisclosed.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes permitted the procedure following confirmation from federal police doctors regarding the necessity of the surgery. Bolsonaro, who served as president from 2019 to 2022, suffers from a painful hernia affecting both groins and has undergone multiple surgeries since a 2018 stabbing incident.
Despite granting permission for the surgery, de Moraes denied Bolsonaro’s request for house arrest post-surgery. Bolsonaro is held at the federal police headquarters in Brasilia, where he occupies a 12-square-meter room equipped with a bed, private bathroom, air conditioning, TV, and desk. Although he has unrestricted access to medical and legal counsel, other visitors require Supreme Court approval.
Conviction Details and Allegations
The former president, alongside several allies, was convicted by a Supreme Court panel for attempting to subvert Brazil’s democratic framework following his electoral defeat in 2022. The conspiracy allegedly included plots to assassinate President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and Justice de Moraes, as well as plans to incite an uprising in early 2023.
Bolsonaro faced additional convictions for orchestrating an armed criminal organization and attempting to dismantle the democratic rule of law through violent means. Despite these charges, Bolsonaro has maintained his innocence.
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