The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being deemed a risk of fleeing

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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.

This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.

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

The senator wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The scheme was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.

The police took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.

Steven Hall
Steven Hall

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