Brazil’s Supreme Court docket has ordered that the previous right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro be put below home arrest.
He’s standing trial over allegations he plotted a coup, which he denies.
President Donald Trump has used Mr Bolsonaro’s trial, which he calls a “witch-hunt”, as a justification for imposing 50% tariffs on some Brazilian items regardless of the US having a commerce surplus with Brazil.
The choose accountable for investigating Mr Bolsonaro, Alexandre de Moraes, mentioned the choice was as a result of Mr Bolsonaro hadn’t complied with restraining orders placed on him final month.
Mr Moraes, who the US has additionally sanctioned, mentioned Mr Bolsonaro had used the social networks of his allies together with his sons to unfold messages that inspired assaults on the Supreme Court docket and overseas intervention within the Brazilian judiciary.
On Sunday, pro-Bolsonaro rallies had been held in varied Brazilian cities. One in every of his sons, Flávio, who’s a senator, briefly put his father on speakerphone to the group in Rio de Janeiro.
Flávio additionally reportedly later revealed a video, which he deleted afterwards, of his father on the opposite aspect of the decision sending a message to supporters.
Mr Moraes additionally banned him from receiving visits, besides from legal professionals or folks authorised by the Supreme Court docket, and from utilizing a cell phone straight or by way of third events.
He had already, beforehand, been ordered to put on an ankle tag, to stick to a curfew, to not use social media, and to not contact his son Eduardo Bolsonaro who has lobbied US officers on his behalf within the US.
These restrictions had been imposed due to allegations he was encouraging Donald Trump to intervene within the case.
