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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 planning a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.

This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the custody, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the protest called by his child.

His son, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of his transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

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

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

He was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brasília.

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

The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and return him to office.

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

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

The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.