Bolsonaro arrested after being deemed a risk of fleeing
Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.
This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's decision was the chance of his transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.