The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being deemed a escape threat

Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.

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

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.