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

The one-time leader was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under confinement pending appeals.

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

This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

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

His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your sofa? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of heading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.

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

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

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

He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

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