🔗 Share this article

Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could "pray for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was prevented because it didn't receive the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, the capital city.

The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.