Jair Bolsonaro taken into custody after being considered a escape threat

Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".

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

His child, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the possibility of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which included plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, many his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.

The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

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

The former president called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him running in the next presidential race.