The former Brazilian president arrested after being considered a escape threat
The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brasilia, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
He was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.
The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 presidential election.
