Brazilian Judge Orders House Arrest for Coup Plot Convicts After Commander Flees

Judge Tightens Restrictions on Coup Plotters

In a significant development in Brazil's ongoing legal proceedings related to the 2022 election aftermath, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued house arrest orders on Saturday, December 27, 2025, for 10 individuals convicted of participating in a plot to keep former President Jair Bolsonaro in power. The decision came just hours after a former police commander, also convicted in the scheme, was apprehended and extradited back to Brazil after attempting to flee the country.

Fugitive Commander's Capture Prompts Action

The immediate catalyst for the judge's order was the flight of Silvinei Vasques, the former director of Brazil's Federal Highway Police. Vasques, who had been convicted in the same coup plot, reportedly tore off his ankle monitor on Thursday and drove to Paraguay in a rental car. He was detained in Paraguay on Friday night while allegedly attempting to board a flight to El Salvador using false documents. Paraguayan authorities subsequently extradited him to Brazil.

This incident underscored concerns about the flight risk posed by other convicted individuals, leading Justice de Moraes to impose stricter measures. Many of the 10 individuals now under house arrest had previously been subject to less stringent cautionary measures, such as electronic ankle monitors or requirements to stay at a specific location nightly.

Details of the Coup Plot and New Restrictions

The convictions stem from a plot aimed at preventing the peaceful transfer of power after Jair Bolsonaro lost the 2022 presidential election. This broader scheme is linked to the January 8, 2023, storming of government buildings in Brasília by Bolsonaro supporters.

Among those now under house arrest is Filipe Martins, a former adviser to Bolsonaro. The new house arrest orders include several significant restrictions:

• Bans on receiving visits
• Prohibition from using social media
• Restrictions on contacting others under investigation
• Requirement to surrender passports
• Requirement to surrender firearm permits

These measures replace previous, less restrictive conditions, signaling a tightening of enforcement against those involved in the alleged coup attempt.

Broader Context and Bolsonaro's Conviction

The trials related to the coup plot have been closely watched in Brazil, a nation where democracy was reinstated in 1985 after decades of military rule.

Former President Jair Bolsonaro himself was convicted and sentenced to 27 years in prison in September for his role in attempting to orchestrate a coup to remain in office despite his electoral defeat. He has been serving his prison sentence since November and was recently hospitalized for surgery.