Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being considered a risk of fleeing
Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The former head of state was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of the former president's move to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
He was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to murder the current president and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the moment, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.