Jair Bolsonaro detained after being considered a flight risk

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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The one-time leader was convicted of planning a armed takeover in September and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting 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 electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his child.

His son, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of his transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will have a detention review on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a plot which encompassed plans to murder the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him running in the next presidential race.

Jason Buckley
Jason Buckley

Passionate food blogger and home cook sharing her love for creating simple, delicious meals that bring people together.