Bolsonaro arrested after being declared a escape threat
Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.
This included attempting to break his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His child, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
The former president was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.
The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, the capital city.
The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.