Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being deemed a risk of fleeing
The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.
This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His son, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? 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 nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of his move to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was prevented because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.
The police intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.