Bolsonaro arrested after being considered a risk of fleeing
The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The former head of state was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in September and given more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.
This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said information from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of his transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.
The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brasília.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and return him to office.
At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.