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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The former head of state was found guilty of planning a armed takeover in last fall and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.

This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the custody, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

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

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

He was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. The current president was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his followers invaded and destroyed official structures in the federal district, the capital city.

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

The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.