Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being deemed a risk of fleeing
The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.
This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the protest called by his son.
His child, his son FlĂĄvio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of his move to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also asked that he be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to murder Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. The current president was sworn in without incident on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.
The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.