The former Brazilian president arrested after being declared a flight risk

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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The former head of state was sentenced of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and given more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.

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

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a document approving the detention, the judge said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.

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

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

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

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The plot was stopped because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The police intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and return him to office.

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

He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.

Lori Barton
Lori Barton

Award-winning journalist with over 15 years of experience covering international affairs and global politics.