🔗 Share this article

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

The ex-president was convicted of plotting a military coup in last fall and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.

This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, leading him to implement a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plan which included plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, numerous his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

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

The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

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

He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

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