The former Brazilian president detained after being deemed a escape threat

Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was found guilty of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.

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

His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, prompting him to implement a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

He is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also requested that he be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, Brasília.

The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 presidential election.