Medical practitioners reporting existence of nascent cancer in Brazil's ex-president Jair Bolsonaro
In a dramatic turn of events, former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been sentenced to 27 years and three months in prison for plotting an attempted coup in Brazil. The Supreme Court of Brazil found him guilty of illegally attempting to hold onto power following his 2022 election defeat to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. However, the sentence does not immediately send him to prison.
Bolsonaro, who has been under house arrest since his conviction on attempted coup charges last week, has been vocal about his innocence and accused the trial as political persecution. He has been wearing an ankle monitor since a measure was enforced after Federal Police said that he and his lawmaker son Eduardo had been working with US authorities to obtain sanctions against Brazilian public officials due to alleged persecution.
During his house arrest, Bolsonaro has been receiving medical treatment at the Hospital DF Star in Brasília. His doctors have diagnosed him with anemia, signs of a recent pneumonia, and have administered iron infusions. He has also received treatment for suspicious skin lesions, which were removed for testing and later diagnosed as early-stage skin cancer. Bolsonaro has also experienced symptoms including severe hiccups, vomiting, and low blood pressure, for which he has received treatment.
The judge overseeing Bolsonaro's trial, Alexandre de Moraes, has increased security measures on Bolsonaro's residence. Police have been conducting inspections of all vehicles leaving and monitoring the exterior of the house. The court panel has up to 60 days to publish the ruling after the decision. Once the ruling is published, Bolsonar's lawyers have five days to file motions for clarification.
Bolsonaro's eldest son, Flávio, has stated that his father will fight this battle just as he has fought tougher ones in the past. Meanwhile, the United States President, Donald Trump, has imposed tariffs of 50% on Brazilian goods, citing the case against Bolsonaro as one of the reasons. Trump has called the trial a "witch hunt."
The US Treasury has sanctioned Brazilian judge Alexandre de Moraes overseeing Bolsonaro's trial, adding another layer of complexity to an already tense situation. The world watches as the legal process unfolds, with Bolsonaro's future and the political landscape of Brazil hanging in the balance.
