Bolsonaro arrested after being deemed a risk of fleeing
The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in September and given more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under home detention pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.
This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home 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 smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which included plans to murder the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.
The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed official structures in the national capital, Brasília.
The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 presidential election.