🔗 Share this article

Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's determination was the potential of his move to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

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

He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, many his backers invaded and destroyed official structures in the federal district, the capital city.

The law enforcement intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, restore order and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.