Jair Bolsonaro detained after being declared a escape threat
Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.
This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.
The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
He is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.
The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.