The former Brazilian president detained after being deemed a flight risk

Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was sentenced of planning a armed takeover in September and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could enable a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.

His child, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, the capital city.

The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The judges found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 national vote.