🔗 Share this article

The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was convicted of planning a government overthrow in last fall and given more than over two decades in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.

This encompassed attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His child, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a assembly of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

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

He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also requested that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

He was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plot which encompassed plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.

The plot was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, the capital city.

The police intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.