Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being deemed a risk of fleeing
Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The former head of state was found guilty of planning a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a document approving the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of the former president's move to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, BrasÃlia.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were detained.
The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.
