The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being deemed a flight risk
The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after recent developments emerged.
This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a assembly of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that he be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, many his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.
The police took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.