The former Brazilian president detained after being deemed a risk of fleeing
The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments emerged.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of the former president's transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that he be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was convicted of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was stopped because it didn't receive the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.