Jair Bolsonaro detained after being declared a flight risk
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 found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his child.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the potential of the former president's move to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
The former president was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.