Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being deemed a risk of fleeing
Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after fresh information came to light.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.
The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
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 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.