🔗 Share this article

The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.

This included trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.

His child, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

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

Background on Conviction

He was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, numerous his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.

The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.