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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The former head of state was convicted of plotting a military coup in September and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.

This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His son, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, many his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.