🔗 Share this article

The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.

This included trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.

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

His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also requested that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, many his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.

The police took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.