Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being declared a flight risk
Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The former head of state was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under confinement pending appeals.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.
This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, the capital city, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on the eighth of January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, the capital city.
The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The judges found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The former president called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.