Jair Bolsonaro detained after being considered a escape threat

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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was sentenced of planning a armed takeover in the ninth month and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the centre monitoring 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 offspring.

His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

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

He said the gathering would be so followers 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 determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for lung conditions 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 presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, many his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.

Daniel Martinez
Daniel Martinez

A passionate esports journalist and community manager with over 8 years of experience covering competitive gaming scenes across Europe.