Bolsonaro arrested after being declared a risk of fleeing

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

The one-time leader was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information came to light.

This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

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

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's move to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to ask for protection through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a detention review on the next 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 petitioned that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. His successor was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, many his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the moment, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.

Megan Castro
Megan Castro

Alessandro Bernardi is a financial journalist with over a decade of experience covering global markets and economic trends.