Bolsonaro arrested after being considered a risk of fleeing
The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a military coup in last fall and given more than over two decades in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after recent developments emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the protest called by his son.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a assembly of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's decision was the chance of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.
The legal document highlights that the US embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
He is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a detention review on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which included plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.
The police intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, the legal team 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 end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.