🔗 Share this article Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being declared a flight risk The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention. The former head of state was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges. Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged. This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape. Judicial Records Show Flight Fears In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his getaway". This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son. His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening. The senator wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us." He said the gathering would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country." Foreign Shelter Risks Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of his "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said. The judicial paperwork highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from the former president's residence. Global Responses His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, leading him to implement a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods. Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on Sunday. Recent Judicial Appeals It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices. They also asked that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems. Details of Guilty Verdict Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula. High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which included plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case. The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023. But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital. The police took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody. The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office. At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive. He was also barred from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term. The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.