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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.

This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

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

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is located around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that he be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. His successor was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, Brasília.

The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the period, the legal team called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.