🔗 Share this article The former Brazilian president arrested after being declared a flight risk Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention. The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges. Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light. This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight. Court Filing Details Escape Risks In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape. This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son. His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening. Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us." He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation." Foreign Shelter Risks Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said. The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home. Worldwide Consequences Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil. Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on the following day. Recent Judicial Appeals It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with electronic monitoring. They also petitioned that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses. Background on Conviction He was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula. Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case. The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023. But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, Brasília. The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody. The judges found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and return him to office. At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh. He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence. The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.