🔗 Share this article Bolsonaro taken into custody after being declared a flight risk Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement. The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges. High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged. This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee". Court Filing Details Escape Risks In a document approving the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his getaway". This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son. His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend. His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us." He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation." Embassy Asylum Concerns Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said. The judicial paperwork highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home. Worldwide Consequences His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, prompting him to implement a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods. He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday. Recent Legal Requests It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices. They also asked that he be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses. Background on Conviction Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial. The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023. But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, Brasília. The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained. The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power. At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh. He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment. The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.