Jair Bolsonaro detained after being considered a escape threat
Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.
This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His child, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that he be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, many his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.