Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being declared a flight risk
The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The former head of state was convicted of planning a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.
This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the possibility of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a detention review on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
He was convicted of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power 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 scheme which involved plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. His successor was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.