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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The ex-president was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in September and given more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information came to light.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.

His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of his move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

The former president was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also barred from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.