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Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under confinement pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.

This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

He was found guilty of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which included plans to murder Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.

The scheme was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.

The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

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

He was also banned from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.