Bolsonaro taken into custody after being considered a escape threat
The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under home detention pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing 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 assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of the former president's move to foreign missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, causing him to implement a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on the eighth of January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.