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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

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

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, 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 didn't receive the support of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The police intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.

The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the moment, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also banned from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.