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

The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a military coup in September and given more than over two decades in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.

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

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, leading him to enact a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

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

They also requested that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his followers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and return him to office.

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

He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.