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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The former head of state was convicted of planning a armed takeover in the ninth month and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.

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

His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a detention review on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was found guilty of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. Lula was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.

The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.