Bolsonaro detained after being declared a risk of fleeing
Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.
This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a assembly of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, prompting him to enact a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that the former president be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which included plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The plot was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, many his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and return him to office.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.