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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The ex-president was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His son, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also requested that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and return him to office.

At the moment, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years 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 participating in the 2026 presidential election.