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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The one-time leader was sentenced of plotting a military coup in September and given more than over two decades in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his escape.

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

His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

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

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

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

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also barred from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.