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

The former head of state was convicted of planning a government overthrow in September and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.

This encompassed trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.

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

His offspring, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."

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

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.