🔗 Share this article Bolsonaro taken into custody after being considered a risk of fleeing The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest. The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending appeals. Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged. This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee". Court Filing Details Flight Fears In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight. This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son. His child, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend. The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us." He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our land." Diplomatic Refuge Fears Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said. The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling. Worldwide Consequences Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, leading him to impose 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 have a imprisonment assessment on the following day. Latest Court Petitions It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring. They also asked that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments. Context of Sentencing The former president was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula. Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing the former president's case. The plot was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without incident on January 1st, 2023. But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital. The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested. The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority. At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe". He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence. The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.