🔗 Share this article

Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a military coup in September and given more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.

This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.

His child, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of his "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

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

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, many his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.

The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The judges found that the protesters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the period, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

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

The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.