The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being declared a risk of fleeing

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

The former head of state was convicted of planning a armed takeover in last fall and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.

This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.

His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of his move to foreign missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, causing him to enact a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.

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

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

He was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was prevented because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the moment, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.

Daniel Fisher
Daniel Fisher

Astrophysicist and science communicator passionate about making space science accessible through engaging articles and research.