Jair Bolsonaro detained after being considered a risk of fleeing
Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.
This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of his transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to murder Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, numerous his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the next presidential race.