Bolsonaro arrested after being considered a risk of fleeing
The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was convicted of planning a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under confinement pending appeals.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the custody, 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 made easier by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of his move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also requested that he be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
He was convicted of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were detained.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.