Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being declared a escape threat
The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The ex-president was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and handed more than over two decades in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.