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Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.

This encompassed attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of his transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

He was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the military leaders. The current president was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.

The law enforcement took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been provoked by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

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

The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.