The former Brazilian president detained after being considered a flight risk
Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This encompassed trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone 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 restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, many his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brasília.
The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.