🔗 Share this article

The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his getaway".

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

His offspring, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the possibility of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

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

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, many his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, Brasília.

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

The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

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

The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the next presidential race.