The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being considered a flight risk

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Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was sentenced of planning a military coup in September and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after fresh information emerged.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the magistrate said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

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

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

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's decision was the chance of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a custody hearing on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

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

They also asked that he be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.

James Park
James Park

Elara Vance is a gaming industry analyst with over a decade of experience in reviewing online casinos and slot games across the UK market.