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

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.

This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to struggle with us."

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

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of the former president's transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader President Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, many his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

The police intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

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

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.