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Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.

The former head of state was found guilty of planning a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.

This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

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

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

His son wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that the former president be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a plot which included plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.

The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

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

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

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