Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being deemed a flight risk
The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The ex-president was found guilty of planning a armed takeover in September and given more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after fresh information emerged.
This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle 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 Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, leading him to implement a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The police intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.
The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, restore order and return him to office.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.