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

The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.

This encompassed trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His son, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that he be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

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

High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which included plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.

The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the moment, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.