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

The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in September and handed more than over two decades in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This encompassed attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.

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

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

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of his "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

He was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which encompassed plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, many his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.