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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was found guilty of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.

His son, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, the capital city, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that he be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, numerous his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.