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

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His child, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also requested that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The judges found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

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

The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.