The former Brazilian president detained after being deemed a flight risk
Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The former head of state was sentenced of planning a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.
This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also requested that he be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the next presidential race.