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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in the ninth month and handed more than over two decades in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.

This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a document approving the detention, the judge said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.

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

His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."

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

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the possibility of his transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

The former president was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to murder Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The plot was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, many his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

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

The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.