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 the ninth month and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.
This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the possibility of his transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
He was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, Brasília.
The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
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 legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.