The former Brazilian president detained after being considered a flight risk
Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which included plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.
The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.