🔗 Share this article

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

The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.

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

The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of his move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a detention review on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also asked that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to murder Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, many his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

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

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from campaigning for 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 designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.