The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being declared a risk of fleeing
Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in September and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.
This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, the judge said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plot which included plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the time, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.