Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being considered a risk of fleeing
Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in September and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.
This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also asked that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to kill his opponent and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.
The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The judges found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.