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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his child.

His child, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a detention review on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

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

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the moment, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.