Brazil court allows former president Bolsonaro to leave prison for surgery

• Supreme Court authorizes Jair Bolsonaro to leave custody for surgery.
• Request for humanitarian house arrest is rejected.
• Doctors recommend surgical treatment for a hernia.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes on Friday approved a request allowing former President Jair Bolsonaro to temporarily leave the Federal Police Superintendency in Brasilia to undergo surgery for a hernia.

Bolsonaro is currently serving a 27-year prison sentence at the federal police facility. The authorization follows a motion filed last week by his defense team, which also sought permission for the right-wing leader to complete his sentence under humanitarian house arrest.

- Court decision -

Justice Moraes rejected the house arrest request and did not set a specific date for the procedure, leaving scheduling to Bolsonaro’s lawyers.

“The defendant is being held in a location very close to the private hospital where he receives emergency medical care... so there is no harm in the event of a possible need for emergency transport,” Moraes wrote in his ruling.

- Medical findings -

Earlier this week, Moraes authorized a medical evaluation by Federal Police doctors to assess Bolsonaro’s health. The examination took place on Wednesday, with findings released on Friday.

Federal Police physicians said the former president should undergo surgery to address the hernia. “Although there is a safe possibility of non-surgical treatment, surgeons recommend surgical intervention when an inguinal hernia is discovered,” the report stated.

- Legal background -

Bolsonaro was convicted in September for plotting a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election. He was arrested last month over concerns he posed a flight risk.

The former president has a long medical history stemming from a 2018 campaign stabbing to the abdomen, which led to multiple hospitalizations and surgeries.

Prior to his arrest, he spent more than 100 days under house arrest in a separate case related to allegations that he sought US interference to block legal proceedings against him.