Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being declared a escape threat
Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.
This involved seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of the former president's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, causing him to enact a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, BrasĂlia.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been incited by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and return him to office.
At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.
