Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after a determination by Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes that he posed a "concrete flight risk." Bolsonaro, 70, was convicted in September of plotting a military coup and sentenced to over 27 years in prison, though he remained under house arrest pending appeals.
Justice Moraes stated the detention was a preventative measure, citing "new facts." These included an attempt by Bolsonaro to tamper with his electronic ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil by his son, Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, which authorities believed could facilitate an escape. The court filing authorizing the arrest indicated that monitoring center information suggested Bolsonaro's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his escape," an action that would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son." Senator Flávio Bolsonaro had urged supporters to gather near his father's home for a vigil.
Part of Justice Moraes's decision also considered the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to embassies near the residence." The investigations reportedly "revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation," with the US embassy in Brasilia located approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Bolsonaro is currently being held at a Federal Police station in Brasilia and is scheduled for a custody hearing on Sunday. Prior to his detention, Bolsonaro's lawyers had submitted a request to the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his entire sentence under house arrest with electronic monitoring, citing the need for regular medical treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
US President Donald Trump previously reacted to Bolsonaro's legal situation by imposing a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.