The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His child, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will have a custody hearing on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
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 domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
The former president was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the period, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.
