Bolsonaro arrested after being deemed a flight risk
The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.
This included trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.
His son, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The plot was stopped because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, numerous his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.
The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.
The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.