By Gabriela Sá Pessoa | Associated Press

SAO PAULO — Brazilian police arrested former President Jair Bolsonaro on Saturday on suspicion he was plotting to flee and avoid a 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt.

Bolsonaro was convicted in September of trying to stay in power after losing his 2022 reelection bid. He is the first former president in Latin America’s largest economy found guilty of attempting to overturn an election. He has denied wrongdoing.

Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who oversaw the case, ordered Bolsonaro’s arrest after saying his ankle monitor was tampered with at 12:08 a.m. Saturday. His lawyers dispute that claim.

Bolsonaro, 70, had been under house arrest and was required to wear the device after being deemed a flight risk.

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