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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a military coup in last fall and given more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.

This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.

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

His child, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a declaration said.

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

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

He was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.

The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.