Bolsonaro taken into custody after being declared a risk of fleeing

Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.

This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.

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

His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of the former president's move to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative United States President Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, Brasília.

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

The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

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