🔗 Share this article

Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a military coup in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His child, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."

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

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the potential of his move to embassies near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to leave his home for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

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

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

The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the next presidential race.