Prison Surprise: Brazil's Ex-President Jair Bolsonaro Faces Life Behind Bars

He contested the law and justice triumphed.

Sixty days following getting a twenty-seven-year sentence for attempting to “eradicate” the nation's political system, ex-president Jair Bolsonaro now looks destined for incarceration.

Expected Imprisonment

The convicted plotter – who's been under residential detention in his mansion while a set of court processes and challenges proceed – is widely expected to be imprisoned in the coming days, during mounting rumors that he will be sent to a well-known high-security facility.

Historical Remarks on Convicts

During Bolsonaro’s long public life, the conservative ex- soldier showed little compassion for the country's prison population.

“What’s the need to offer those lowlifes a good life?” he previously wondered. “They should just get messed, period. That's my opinion.”

On another occasion, Bolsonaro proclaimed: “Should you not wish to finish behind bars, all you have to do is to avoid rape, abduction or rob.”

Jail Destination Debate

Yet the idea of Bolsonaro himself landing in the Papuda prison high-security prison in Brasília has horrified allies, several of whom this week visited the complex in an seeming bid to prevent the judiciary from sending him there.

Senator Lucas, a senator from Bolsonaro’s Liberal party who was one of the visitors, claimed he predicted the 70-year-old leader to be incarcerated in the following week and a half and feared his assigned prison could be Papuda.

The senator argued Bolsonaro’s serious intestinal ailments – the outcome of a near-fatal knife attack during the 2018 presidential political campaign – implied it would be hazardous to keep the one-time head of state there. “His health is extremely serious. He won’t be able to manage if they send him to Papuda … It will be terrible,” said the senator, who also expressed concern about cramped cells and the quality of inmate food.

While visiting Papuda, Lucas recalled witnessing cells accommodating four dozen detainees: “It's virtually one meter squared per prisoner.

“We spoke to the inmates and they grumble, naturally, of the horrible meals,” remarked the senator.

Allies Voice Concerns

Lucas is not the lone figure expressing views prior to the former president’s expected detention.

Penning in a prominent newspaper, a different supporter, the former government official Fábio Wajngarten, bemoaned the “harsh” conclusion to Bolsonaro’s “flawless” time in office and asserted Brazil was about to witness “the biggest unfairness in its history”.

“It is an injustice that gnaws the spirits of many Brazilian citizens,” the former minister said.

Divided Popular Reaction

This could be true due to the considerable following Bolsonaro holds on the right-wing. However his predicted incarceration has also warmed the feelings of millions other people who believe he ought to be jailed for conspiring to prevent his successor from becoming president – and also conspiring to have him murdered.

Congressman Otoni, a politician for the sitting leader's Workers’ party, commented: “No one wishes Bolsonaro to be put in a dungeon. Not a soul wishes Bolsonaro to be placed in segregation. No one wishes Bolsonaro to lack food or for him to have to sleep on the floor. We want him to receive dignified handling – but proper treatment behind bars. He cannot carry on being his personal jailer for his whole life.”

Otoni was struck by how Bolsonaro allies, who have long celebrating the severe treatment of prisoners, had abruptly realized to their entitlements. “Just now has the extreme right – which has consistently claimed that human rights were not for criminals – chosen to visit a penitentiary to learn what circumstances are truly like,” he said.

“The former president is a criminal,” the congressman maintained, but that did not mean he deserved “shameful, demeaning handling”.

Potential Jail Facilities

Despite speculation that Bolsonaro could be transferred to Papuda, which presently contains about 14,000 prisoners, his more likely location looks to be a adjacent penitentiary for law enforcement and other “special” prisoners known as Papudinha (Minor Papuda).

Its cells are considerably more comfortable than those in the main prison, although still a far cry from the luxury Bolsonaro experienced while residing in the spectacular official residence, approximately 12 miles away.

As per information, the room Bolsonaro could likely occupy in Papudinha measures about 24 sq metres – roughly the size of vehicle spaces – and features a 12 square meter WC with a water facility and a 12 sq metre terrace. “Bolsonaro would be authorized to have a set and even a cooler in his room as long as they were supplied by his relatives,” sources indicated.

Political Comments

He condemned the talked-about plan to send the one-time head of state to Papuda as “a type of revenge” on the part of the presiding magistrate who led Bolsonaro’s proceedings and will determine his future in the {

Charles Alvarez
Charles Alvarez

A passionate gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in reviewing online casinos and sharing strategic insights for players worldwide.