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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The former head of state was convicted of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.

This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.

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

His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of his "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a detention review on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

He was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.

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

The justices found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.