New York, March 13: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on Friday after developing a severe case of pneumonia while in custody. Medical officials at the Armed Forces Hospital in Brasília confirmed that the 70-year-old former leader was transferred from his prison cell following several days of persistent coughing and a high fever. While doctors describe his condition as stable, they emphasised that ICU monitoring is necessary due to his complex medical history and the severity of the respiratory infection.

The hospitalisation marks a significant turn for the former president, who has been serving a sentence related to several high-profile legal investigations since 2024. Bolsonaro’s legal team had reportedly been petitioning for a transfer to house arrest or a private medical facility for weeks, citing his deteriorating health. Federal police officials stated that the transfer to the hospital was conducted under heavy security and followed standard protocols for high-profile inmates requiring urgent medical intervention. Jair Bolsonaro Sentenced to Over 27 Years: Supreme Federal Court Convicts Former Brazilian President in Coup Case.

Jair Bolsonaro in ICU For Pneumonia

According to a medical bulletin released Friday evening, Bolsonaro is being treated with intravenous antibiotics and is currently breathing with the assistance of supplemental oxygen. Doctors are particularly concerned about potential complications stemming from a 2018 stabbing incident, which has left him with chronic digestive and abdominal issues.

"The patient is conscious and responding to treatment, but given the inflammation in his lungs, he remains under observation in the intensive care wing," the hospital statement read. His family, including his sons who serve in the Brazilian legislature, have been granted limited visitation rights under police supervision. Donald Trump Claims Iran Is ‘About To Surrender’ in G7 Call: Report.

Jair Bolsonaro was imprisoned following a series of trials involving allegations of misusing government resources and inciting the January 8, 2023, riots in the capital. He was also barred from seeking political office until 2030 by Brazil's Superior Electoral Court.

His supporters have taken to social media to call for his release on humanitarian grounds, while government officials maintain that he is receiving the same quality of care afforded to any citizen in his condition. The court has not yet ruled on whether his illness will lead to a temporary suspension of his prison term in favor of hospital-based recovery.

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