Jair Bolsonaro detained after being deemed a escape threat

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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in September and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a invitation to a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the protest called by his child.

His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of his transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.

The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.

Crystal Fischer
Crystal Fischer

A passionate film critic and cinema historian with over a decade of experience analyzing movies across genres and cultures.