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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was found guilty of planning a armed takeover in September and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of his transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

He is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

He was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brasília.

The police took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.

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

He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.