Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being considered a risk of fleeing
Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.
This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
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 house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that he be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to murder the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The judges found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.