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

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.

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

His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a assembly of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."

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

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that he be permitted to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

He was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, many his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.

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

The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and return him to office.

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

He was also barred from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.