🔗 Share this article

The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The one-time leader was convicted of planning a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.

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

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

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 surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

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

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.

The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the moment, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.