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

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.

This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that the former president be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to kill the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the military leaders. Lula was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, the capital city.

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

The judges found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year 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.