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

The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, 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 nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of his "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

The former president was found guilty of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to kill his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.

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

The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The former president called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.