The former Brazilian president arrested after being declared a risk of fleeing
Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of planning a military coup in last fall and given more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.
This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.
The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, causing him to implement a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were detained.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the period, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.