The former Brazilian president arrested after being considered a flight risk
The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The ex-president was convicted of planning a armed takeover in last fall and given more than over two decades in incarceration, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.
This involved seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a document approving the arrest, the judge said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of his transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also asked that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the moment, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.