🔗 Share this article

The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The ex-president was convicted of planning a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.

This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.

His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."

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

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, many his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the time, 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 conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.