The former Brazilian president arrested after being declared a escape threat
The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in September and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.
This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.
The scheme was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.