🔗 Share this article

The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in the ninth month and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.

His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The legal document highlights that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that he be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was convicted of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.

The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.

The judges found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.