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Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and given more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of his "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also asked that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.

The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited 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 intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.