Brasilia: The Brazilian Supreme Court has confirmed that it has no intentions to arrest former President Jair Bolsonaro at this time, amid claims that he may have broken a court-imposed social media ban, according to Al Jazeera.
On Thursday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes dismissed Bolsonaro's recent actions as an isolated incident and declined to issue an arrest warrant. Al Jazeera stated that de Moraes is currently overseeing the investigation into whether Bolsonaro attempted a coup following his defeat in the 2022 presidential election to current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.
The case has generated considerable political debate both locally and abroad, with Bolsonaro's allies, including US President Donald Trump, dismissing the prosecution as politically motivated. Bolsonaro has consistently denied any wrongdoing, declaring during his testimony in June, "There was never any discussion of a coup. "
However, according to prosecutors, Bolsonaro and his supporters conspired to disrupt the election results by eroding public trust in the vote, declaring a state of emergency, and preparing to suspend government operations in order to hold another election. According to Al Jazeera, Bolsonaro never formally acknowledged defeat and departed Brazil at the conclusion of his presidency instead of attending Lula's inauguration.
According to Al Jazeera, his supporters then attacked police headquarters, barricaded roads, and destroyed major government buildings, including the Supreme Court, Congress, and the presidential palace, in an unsuccessful effort to provoke military involvement.
Trump, in response to Bolsonaro's legal issues, vowed to raise tariffs on Brazilian imports to the United States by 50 percent starting August 1. Trump stated in a letter that this trial should not be occurring. It is a witch search that must end right away! He also denounced the event as an international shame.
Justice de Moraes, citing increasing international pressure, placed numerous limits on Bolsonaro last Friday, including house imprisonment on nights and weekends, seizure of his passport, an ankle monitor, and a prohibition on social media use or contact with foreign countries. Bolsonaro eventually criticised the measures, calling the ankle monitor "a symbol of the ultimate humiliation. "
De Moraes charged Bolsonaro of delivering a speech to be broadcast on internet platforms, raising worries about a probable violation of the social media ban. He gave Bolsonaro's legal team 24 hours to respond, warning that any infractions would result in arrest.
Bolsonaro's attorneys rejected any wrongdoing and asked for clarification on the ban's scope, including whether media interactions were permitted. According to Al Jazeera, de Moraes stated in a court filing on Friday that Bolsonaro is not prohibited from granting interviews to news outlets and finally rejected to order his detention.
He warned, however, that any future transgressions of the mandated limitations would result in Bolsonaro's detention.
