Brazil Tightens Surveillance on Bolsonaro Amid Fears of Escape Attempt

In this typically tranquil and upscale neighborhood of Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, crime is rare. Yet recently, plainclothes police officers have been stationed here, assigned an unusual task: closely monitoring former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Bolsonaro has been under house arrest for several weeks in one of the luxury homes, wearing an ankle monitor as he awaits a trial set to begin Tuesday. He faces charges of conspiring to overthrow the government after losing the 2022 presidential election, charges he denies.

Brazilian authorities have stepped up security measures around Bolsonaro amid growing concerns he might attempt to escape, according to a senior law enforcement official who spoke anonymously about sensitive discussions.

Last week, plainclothes officers were positioned outside the gated community, surveilling the main entrance. On Saturday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversees the case, authorized police to station themselves around Bolsonaro’s residence, though he denied requests to allow them inside.

Justice de Moraes explained that this decision aims to mitigate escape risks posed by adjacent properties on both sides and at the rear of the house, which create blind spots. The ankle monitor worn by Bolsonaro does not provide real-time location tracking, a limitation that, according to the official, could allow him time to flee to a neighboring house and exit the complex from behind.