Jair Bolsonaro detained after being declared a risk of fleeing
The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.
This encompassed trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to kill his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.