A Brazilian court is moving an investigation into the illegal use of espionage software against Carlos Bolsonaro and former intelligence officials.
This shift in jurisdiction marks a significant procedural change in the case involving the First Mile surveillance system. The move determines whether the high-profile figures will face the Supreme Federal Court or the first-instance judiciary, which can alter the speed and nature of the legal proceedings.
The investigation centers on the alleged illegal surveillance of former President Jair Bolsonaro and other targets using the Brazilian Intelligence Agency, known as ABIN [1, 2]. The case involves Carlos Bolsonaro and former ABIN officials Alexandre Ramagem, Marcelo Araújo Bormevet, and Giancarlo Gomes Rodrigues [1, 2].
On June 18, 2026, the Prosecutor-General’s Office requested that the investigation be transferred from the Supreme Federal Court to the first-instance courts [2]. This request was based on the argument that the case should be tried in the lower judiciary rather than remaining before the STF [2].
Minister Alexandre de Moraes ordered the filing of the inquiry on June 20, 2026 [1]. While some reports indicate that Moraes concluded the case against Carlos Bolsonaro and the former ABIN leadership will be tried in the first instance, other reports said the Prosecutor-General’s Office is still defending the transfer [1, 2].
The First Mile system is at the center of the probe, with investigators looking into how the software was deployed to monitor individuals without proper legal authorization [1, 2]. The transition to the first-instance courts would mean the case is handled by a judge without the specialized jurisdiction typically reserved for members of the national congress or the presidency.
“The investigation centers on the alleged illegal surveillance of former President Jair Bolsonaro and other targets.”
The transfer of a case from the Supreme Federal Court to a first-instance court typically removes the 'privileged forum' protection, meaning the defendants no longer benefit from the specific legal status that allows them to be tried only by the highest court. This move suggests a shift in how the Brazilian judiciary views the legal standing of the accused in this specific espionage probe, potentially opening the door for a more standard trial process.
