The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being declared a risk of fleeing

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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of planning a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.

His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

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

He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's decision was the potential of his "relocation to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was found guilty of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.

The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also banned from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.

Johnny Soto
Johnny Soto

A software engineer and tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience in AI development and cybersecurity, passionate about sharing knowledge.