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Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a military coup in last fall and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.

This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His child, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that he be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

He was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.

The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 presidential election.