The former Brazilian president arrested after being declared a escape threat

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

The ex-president was found guilty of planning a military coup in September and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.

This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

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

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment 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 complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that the former president be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was sworn in without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, many his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, Brasília.

The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.