Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being deemed a risk of fleeing
Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The ex-president was found guilty of orchestrating a armed takeover in the ninth month and given more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending appeals.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's determination was the chance of his transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
He was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to murder Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.
The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, the capital city.
The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.