Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro has been ordered to surrender his passports and banned from leaving the country, hours after losing the presidential election to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
According to The Guardian, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes issued the ruling amid an ongoing federal police investigation into Bolsonaro’s possible involvement in money laundering.
The court ordered Bolsonaro to hand over all his passports, including his diplomatic passport, within 24 hours.
He was also prohibited from contacting lawyer Willer Tomaz, who is linked to betting companies suspected of involvement in laundering approximately £680 million.
Bolsonaro confirmed the restrictions in a social media video, claiming police had approached him after he visited his father, former President Jair Bolsonaro, who remains under house arrest.
The senator suggested the decision was connected to remarks by his brother Eduardo, who had encouraged him to leave Brazil if he lost the election.
Bolsonaro has not formally conceded defeat, although his party acknowledged Lula’s victory on Monday.
“We recognise the presidential result proclaimed by the electoral court, but believe that the questions raised need to be properly clarified through a balanced and democratic political debate,” the party said.
Bolsonaro has also challenged the election process and threatened further legal action against Lula.
