Jair Bolsonaro detained after being deemed a risk of fleeing

Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The ex-president was sentenced of planning a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This included seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.

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

The senator wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.

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

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, Brasília.

The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the moment, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.