🔗 Share this article

Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".

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

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

The senator wrote on online platforms on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.

The plot was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The judges found that the rioters 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 period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.