Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being considered a escape threat
The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.
This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.
His child, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that the former president be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was prevented because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.