FORMER Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on Tuesday started his 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt.

Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen the case, ruled that Mr Bolsonaro will remain in custody after being pre-emptively arrested on Saturday.

Supporters and critics of the far-right former leader gathered outside the federal police headquarters after the order was issued, some calling for Mr Bolsonaro’s release and others toasting to his imprisonment.

Mr Bolsonaro had been under house arrest since August and was taken in on Saturday after trying to break his ankle monitor. Mr Bolsonaro blamed “hallucinations.”

Justice de Moraes said: “There is no legal possibility of any other appeal.” But Mr Bolsonaro’s lawyers disagree and promise to keep filing requests for house arrest due to the former leader’s poor health.

The former president and several of his allies were convicted by a panel of Supreme Court justices for attempting to overthrow Brazil’s democracy following his 2022 election defeat.

The plot included plans to kill President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, vice-president Geraldo Alckmin and Justice de Moraes. The plan also involved encouraging an insurrection in early 2023.

The former president was also found guilty of charges including leading an armed criminal organisation

Mr Bolsonaro has always denied wrongdoing.