🔗 Share this article

Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the protest called by his son.

His offspring, Flávio, who works as a legislator, 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 Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

The former president was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plot which included plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, the capital city.

The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.