🔗 Share this article

Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.

This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.

His son, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will have a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also requested that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

The former president was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. The current president was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, many his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.

The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.