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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after fresh information came to light.

This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His son, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, causing him to implement a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.

The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.

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

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

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the next presidential race.