🔗 Share this article

The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after fresh information came to light.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a detention review on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which included plans to kill his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

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

The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.