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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 one-time leader was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in September and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.

This encompassed attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement 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 protest called by his child.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a consular facility", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Donald Trump, causing him to implement a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

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

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.