The former Brazilian president detained after being declared a flight risk

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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information came to light.

This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

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

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of his move to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will have a detention review on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

The former president was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to kill his opponent and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brasília.

The police stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

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

The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.

Alexis Robinson
Alexis Robinson

A financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in precious metals markets, specializing in gold investment strategies and economic forecasting.