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

The one-time leader was convicted of planning a military coup in September and given more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.

This involved seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

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

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, numerous his followers invaded and destroyed official structures in the national capital, Brasília.

The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

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

The former president called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.