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

The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a military coup in last fall and given more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.

This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to enact a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brasília.

The security forces stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The justices found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

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

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

The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.