The former Brazilian president arrested after being declared a flight risk

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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the surveillance device 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 serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the potential of his move to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

He was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The former president called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.

Elizabeth Armstrong
Elizabeth Armstrong

A former professional poker player turned gaming strategist, specializing in probability analysis and risk management for online casinos.