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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a military coup in September and given more than 27 years in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after fresh information emerged.

This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.

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

The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of his move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

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

They also petitioned that he be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.

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

The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

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

The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.