Brazil: Flávio Bolsonaro ordered to surrender passports, barred from leaving the country

A day after losing the presidential election, Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro has been ordered to surrender his passports and barred from leaving the country. The order came from Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, according to the news portal G1, cited by the German agency dpa.

The justice ordered his passports cancelled, including his diplomatic passport, and handed over within 24 hours. He also barred him from contacting lawyer Willer Tomaz, who is under investigation too. The case concerns alleged money laundering linked to companies and online sports betting. Federal police say they found evidence of a link between Flávio Bolsonaro and a bank account of one of the lawyer's companies, which he denies.

Flávio Bolsonaro, 45, said in a video that federal police asked for his passports on Monday as he left the home of his father, former president Jair Bolsonaro, who is under house arrest in Brasília. He blamed the order on remarks by his brother Eduardo, who lives in the United States and had said before the vote that he would support Flávio leaving Brazil if he lost. "I never considered leaving the country. I will surrender my passports and fight this absurdity, which is a clear attempt to intimidate me," he said.

He also faces a separate investigation into alleged corruption and money laundering tied to the financing of "Dark Horse," a film about his father. He denies any wrongdoing.

On Sunday, Flávio Bolsonaro lost the runoff to incumbent Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who won a fourth term with about 51.8% of the vote against 48.2%, according to the electoral court. He says he will challenge Lula's victory in court, accusing him of using state resources during the campaign.