🔗 Share this article

Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in September and handed more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.

This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, many his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

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

The justices found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.