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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.

This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a document approving the detention, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.

His son, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that the former president be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. His successor was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, Brasília.

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

The justices found that the rioters had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.