The former Brazilian president detained after being declared a flight risk

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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The ex-president was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This included trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.

His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The legal document highlights that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, BrasĂ­lia.

The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.

Sean Pierce
Sean Pierce

A seasoned tech strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and AI-driven solutions.