Bolsonaro taken into custody after being deemed a flight risk
Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.
This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will undergo a detention review on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
The former president was found guilty of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, many his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the time, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.