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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 one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.

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

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

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.

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

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow 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 care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.

The police stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.