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

The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

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

The senator wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's determination was the potential of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also requested that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. Lula was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

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

He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.