Bolsonaro detained after being considered a risk of fleeing
Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the detention, 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 secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader President Trump, prompting him to impose a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to kill his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.
The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, the capital city.
The police intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years 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 next presidential race.