Although he is embroiled in several legal troubles and has been indicted multiple times, as of now (late 2025), Jair Bolsonaro is not yet in prison. He remains free for the time being, although his passport has been confiscated and he is prohibited from leaving the country.
However, he faces a growing number of very serious cases that directly threaten his future. Here are the main reasons why he is in the crosshairs of the Brazilian justice system:
Attempted coup d’état (January 8, 2023)
This is the most serious case. The Brazilian Federal Police have formally charged Jair Bolsonaro with attempted coup, violent suppression of the rule of law, and organized crime.
Investigators allege that he actively participated in developing a plan to prevent the transfer of power to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after his electoral defeat, culminating in the storming of government buildings in Brasília by his supporters.
“Saudi Jewels” Case
He is accused of attempting to misappropriate valuable official gifts (including jewelry sets presented by Saudi Arabia) that should have belonged to the state.
According to the investigation, some of these jewels were allegedly sold in the United States for his personal profit before being urgently repurchased when the scandal broke.
False Vaccination Certificates
He was also charged with falsifying his Covid-19 vaccination records (and those of his daughter) in order to travel to the United States at the end of his term, even though health regulations would normally have prevented him from doing so without vaccination.
Political Ineligibility
Even if he isn’t in jail, he has already suffered a major sanction: the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) has declared him ineligible until 2030.
This decision follows his repeated and unsubstantiated attacks against the Brazilian electronic voting system during a meeting with foreign ambassadors, which was deemed an abuse of political power and an improper use of media.