Police accuse Jair Bolsonaro and son of obstruction of justice

Police say they found a letter on the former Brazilian president's phone requesting asylum in Argentina.

Watch LiveBritish Broadcasting CorporationHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingAudioPodcast CategoriesRadioAudio FAQsVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthAudioVideoLiveWeatherNewslettersWatch LiveBolsonaro planned to flee to Argentina, Brazil police say3 hours agoShareSaveVanessa BuschschlüterBBC NewsShareSaveANDRE BORGES/EPA/ShutterstockJair Bolsonaro is on trial for allegedly leading an attempted coupPolice in Brazil have accused former President Jair Bolsonaro, 70, and his 41-year-old son Eduardo of obstruction of justice.

They allege that the two tried to interfere in the trial currently under way against the elder Bolsonaro, in which he stands accused of leading an attempted coup after his defeat in the 2022 presidential election.

Police say they have found a document on Jair Bolsonaro's mobile phone which suggests he planned to evade criminal proceedings by seeking asylum in Argentina.

They also accuse Eduardo Bolsonaro of lobbying the Trump administration on behalf of his father - which they say led to the US imposing punitive tariffs on Brazilian goods.

The 170-page police report comes less than two weeks before the start of the final phase of the coup trial and piles further pressure on the former leader.