The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being considered a escape threat
Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.
This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a document approving the custody, the judge said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state'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 demonstration called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also asked that the former president be authorized to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to murder the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.