The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being deemed a risk of fleeing
The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The former head of state was convicted of planning a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.
This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His son, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.
The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was convicted of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.