Brazilian police indict former president over alleged 2022 coup attempt

Federal police in Brazil say they have indicted former president Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people on charges of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his defeat in the 2022 elections.

The findings were to be delivered on Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court to be referred to prosecutor-general Paulo Gonet, who will either agree with the charges and put the former president on trial or toss the investigation.

Mr Bolsonaro has faced a series of legal threats since then.

Other investigations focus on his potential roles in smuggling diamond jewellery into Brazil without properly declaring them, and in directing a subordinate to falsify his and others’ Covid-19 vaccination statuses.

Mr Bolsonaro has denied any involvement in either.

On Tuesday, the federal police arrested four military officers and a federal police officer accused of plotting a coup that included plans to overthrow the government following the 2022 elections and allegedly kill the president and other top officials.