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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The former head of state was convicted of planning a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I call on you to fight with us."

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

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's decision was the chance of his transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also asked that he be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

He was found guilty of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.

The police stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The former president called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.