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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The ex-president was convicted of planning a armed takeover in September and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.

His child, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the vigil 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 determination was the possibility of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, leading him to impose a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.

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

Recent Judicial Appeals

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

They also requested that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.

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

He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.