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

The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.

This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said data from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.

His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that he be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was found guilty of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which included plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The police stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.