The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being declared a flight risk
The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.
This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the next presidential race.