Former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro’s lawyers on Monday, October 27, filed an appeal against his 27-year prison sentence for a botched coup bid after his 2022 election loss.

The far-right firebrand’s lawyers allege “ambiguities, omissions, contradictions and obscurities” in the Supreme Court decision finding him guilty of attempting to oust President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, in a divisive trial that sparked the ire of US President Donald Trump.

Supreme Court judges have no deadline to examine the appeal arguments.

The plot envisaged the assassination of Lula, his vice president Geraldo Alckmin, and Alexandre de Moraes − one of the five Supreme Court judges deciding Bolsonaro’s fate.

Prosecutors said the plan failed only due to a lack of support from military top brass.

Bolsonaro could request to serve his sentence under house arrest

Bolsonaro has been under house arrest since August. Under Brazilian law, he will not be sent to prison until all legal avenues are exhausted.

Thiago Bottino, a law professor at the Getuliuo Vargas Foundation, told AFP that while it was unusual for the Supreme Court to reverse its rulings, it had made adjustments, such as to the length of the sentence.

If his appeal fails, Bolsonaro could request to serve his sentence under house arrest, claiming poor health.

The 70-year-old was recently diagnosed with skin cancer and was briefly admitted to hospital in September after suffering violent bouts of hiccups, vomiting and low blood pressure.

He has had multiple health issues and operations in recent years due to complications following a 2018 stabbing in his abdomen while campaigning for president.