Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being deemed a risk of fleeing

Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The ex-president was found guilty of planning a military coup in last fall and given more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his child.

His son, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of the former president's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the military leaders. His successor was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, many his followers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were detained.

The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military 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 banned from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the next presidential race.