🔗 Share this article

Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The one-time leader was found guilty of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.

This included trying to remove his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

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

His son, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

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

Latest Court Petitions

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

They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

He was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The justices found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also banned from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The former president called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.