The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being considered a flight risk

placeholder news image

The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.

This included seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His son, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative United States President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

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

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed official structures in the federal district, the capital city.

The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.

Kelly Hernandez
Kelly Hernandez

A tech journalist and futurist with over a decade of experience covering AI and digital trends across global markets.