Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being declared a risk of fleeing
Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.
This involved seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of his move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the time, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.