Police report accuses Bolsonaro of leading role in coup plot

Brazil's former president, Jair Bolsonaro, has moved a step closer to jail after a police investigation laid bare what it called a murderous plot to explode the country's democratic system with a military coup that he allegedly helped mastermind.

- Tom Phillips

The far-right populist politician has repeatedly denied involvement in an attempt to overturn the result of the 2022 presidential election, which he narrowly lost to his leftwing rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

But an 884-page federal police report this week accused the former army captain of taking a lead role in planning the conspiracy and trying to persuade the most senior members of the military to join.

Several allegedly agreed, including the commander of the navy, Adm Almir Garnier Santos, and the army's ground operations commander, Gen Estevam Theophilo.

The police report paints the former defence minister, Gen Walter Braga Netto, as being one of the plot's main architects, although he has denied a coup was ever discussed. Braga Netto, 67, who was Bolsonaro's vice-presidential running-mate in 2022, has denied involvement. Garnier Santos and Theophilo have yet to publicly comment on the allegations.

Police allege Bolsonaro ultimately backed away from the three-year plot after the heads of the army and the air force refused to offer their support.