🔗 Share this article

The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and given more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.

This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.

His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of his move to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which included plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, many his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.

The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.