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

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a military coup in last fall and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president'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 offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the chance of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

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

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a detention review on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that he be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, the capital city.

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

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

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

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.