Brazilian police have told a court they have found a document on the mobile phone of former president Jair Bolsonaro suggesting he had planned to flee to Argentina ahead of his judgment for allegedly plotting a military coup.

The far-right populist is facing a jail term of over 40 years when Brazil’s supreme court convenes next month to decide whether he is guilty of conspiring to overturn the result of the 2022 presidential election, which Bolsonaro lost to his leftwing opponent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Bolsonaro denies the charges but some legal and political experts believe the weight of evidence means his conviction and a heavy sentence are virtually guaranteed.

On Wednesday, Brazilian media reported that federal police investigators had filed a report in the supreme court matter claiming to have found a document that was saved on the ex-president’s phone in February 2024 – two days after his passport was seized as a result of the coup investigation – which indicated he was planning to seek political asylum in Argentina, which is governed by his far-right ally Javier Milei.

“In my country of origin I am being persecuted for essentially political reasons and crimes,” Bolsonaro’s alleged draft asylum request reportedly claims, describing the former president as “a politically persecuted person”.

The undated letter was reportedly addressed to “the most excellent president of Argentina Javier Gerardo Miliei [sic]”.

In their report to the supreme court, federal police alleged the letter indicated that Bolsonaro had “planned to flee the country, in order to prevent the law being enforced”.

More to follow …