Jair Bolsonaro arrested after being considered a risk of fleeing

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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of the former president's transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to implement a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

He was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The plot was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the military leaders. His successor was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.

The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The judges found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.

Cindy Williams
Cindy Williams

A tech journalist and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience covering digital transformation and startup ecosystems.