Jair Bolsonaro detained after being declared a risk of fleeing
Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.
This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, 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 evening.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being 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 "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to murder Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.