The former Brazilian president detained after being considered a risk of fleeing

placeholder news image

The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The former head of state was convicted of planning a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.

This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.

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

His child, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, many his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

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

He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The former president called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.

Antonio Gonzalez
Antonio Gonzalez

A software engineer and AI researcher passionate about creating accessible tech content and exploring ethical implications of emerging technologies.