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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and given more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the judge said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.

His son, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the potential of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brasilia, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

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

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, many his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, the capital city.

The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.