Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being deemed a risk of fleeing
Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The former head of state was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in September and handed more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.
This included attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His child, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, leading him to implement a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose scheme, 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 banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 presidential election.