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He fought the law and the law won.

Two months subsequent to receiving a 27-year sentence for attempting to “destroy” Brazil’s democracy, ex-president Jair Bolsonaro now appears destined for incarceration.

Expected Jailing

The adjudicated coup-monger – who's been subject to home confinement in his mansion while a set of court processes and appeals unfold – is broadly anticipated to be incarcerated in the next few days, during mounting speculation that he will be transferred to a infamous maximum security prison.

Historical Statements on Convicts

During Bolsonaro’s four-decade public life, the far-right former military man exhibited scant sympathy for the country's prison population.

“What’s the need to offer those lowlifes a comfortable existence?” he once pondered. “They should just get messed, period. That's my opinion.”

At another time, Bolsonaro stated: “Should you not wish to end up there, you simply need is not rape, kidnap or theft.”

Prison Location Speculation

But the prospect of Bolsonaro himself landing in the Papuda top-security prison in Brasília has horrified supporters, a group of four this week inspected the prison in an obvious bid to dissuade the judiciary from sending him there.

Izalci Lucas, a politician from Bolsonaro’s political party who was one of the visitors, claimed he expected the elderly leader to be jailed in the following week and a half and feared his location could be Papuda.

The senator argued Bolsonaro’s severe gut issues – the result of a near-fatal knife attack during the 2018 presidential election race – signified it would be hazardous to keep the ex-leader there. “His health is extremely serious. He will not be able to manage if they send him to Papuda … It will be terrible,” he added, who also expressed concern about packed cells and the quality of jail cuisine.

When inspecting Papuda, Lucas remembered observing cells containing forty prisoners: “That’s practically one meter squared per inmate.

“We conversed to the inmates and they protest, unsurprisingly, of the horrible food,” remarked the senator.

Backers Speak Out

Lucas is not the only voice speaking out ahead of the ex-leader's expected imprisonment.

Writing in a leading publication, a different supporter, the ex- communications minister Fábio Wajngarten, deplored the “severe” end to Bolsonaro’s “impeccable” public service and alleged Brazil was about to see “the biggest political injustice in its record”.

“It represents an wrong that gnaws the souls of many Brazilian citizens,” he stated.

Divided Popular Reaction

It is possibly true given the substantial support Bolsonaro holds on the Brazilian right. However his anticipated jailing has also pleased the feelings of many others who believe he ought to be imprisoned for conspiring to prevent the elected leader from taking power – and also conspiring to have him killed.

Reimont Otoni, a congressman for the current president's Workers’ party, stated: “Nobody wants Bolsonaro to be put in a hole. No one wishes Bolsonaro to be sent in segregation. Not a soul desires Bolsonaro to lack food or for him to have to lie on concrete. We wish him to receive dignified treatment – but proper care behind bars. He can’t persist being his personal jailer for his entire life.”

The congressman noted how Bolsonaro allies, who have long celebrating the severe handling of convicts, had unexpectedly realized to their entitlements. “Just now has the extreme right – which has repeatedly claimed that basic rights should not be for criminals – decided to inspect a jail to discover what situations are actually like,” he remarked.

“He is a offender,” the congressman maintained, but that did not mean he earned “humiliating, degrading treatment”.

Potential Prison Environment

In spite of speculation that Bolsonaro could be sent to Papuda, which currently houses about thousands of inmates, his expected location appears to be a close penitentiary for officers and other “particular” inmates called Papudinha (Little Papuda).

Its cells are considerably more pleasant than those in the larger jail, although nonetheless a world away from the luxury Bolsonaro enjoyed while living in the spectacular leader's home, about 12 miles away.

According to reports, the accommodation Bolsonaro could anticipate inhabit in Papudinha is about 260 square feet – approximately the area of vehicle spaces – and contains a 130 square foot WC with a water facility and a 12 sq metre terrace. “He could be allowed to have a TV and also a minibar in his cell as long as they were supplied by his relatives,” sources suggested.

Political Responses

The lawmaker criticized the rumoured proposal to send the former leader to Papuda as “an act of retaliation” on the part of the supreme court judge who oversaw Bolsonaro’s proceedings and will rule on his future in the {