Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being declared a flight risk
The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of planning a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.
This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.
His son, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, many his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, the legal team called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.