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

The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.

This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of the former president's transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have 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 Supreme Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, many his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.