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

The former head of state was convicted of planning a military coup in September and given more than over two decades in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.

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

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

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

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that he be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

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

But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.

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

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.