🔗 Share this article Bolsonaro arrested after being considered a risk of fleeing Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement. The ex-president was found guilty of planning a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges. High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed. This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee". Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape. This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his child. His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend. His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us." He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country." Embassy Asylum Concerns Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of the former president's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said. The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home. Worldwide Consequences The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist American leader President Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil. He is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a imprisonment assessment on Sunday. Recent Judicial Appeals It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance. They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses. Context of Sentencing Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula. Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings. The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive 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, numerous his followers invaded and destroyed official structures in the national capital, Brasília. The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody. The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power. At the moment, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive. He was also barred from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term. The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.