Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being considered a escape threat
Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of planning a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His child, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that he be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.
The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and return him to office.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.