🔗 Share this article

The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.

This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His child, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, 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 Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The plot was prevented because it didn't receive the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.

The police intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the moment, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.