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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.

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

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of his move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building 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 ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The plot was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.

The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

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

The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.