🔗 Share this article

Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a military coup in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending appeals.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a document approving the arrest, the judge said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the chance of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which included plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also banned from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.