The former Brazilian president arrested after being deemed a risk of fleeing
Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that he be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The judges found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and return him to office.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.