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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 the ninth month and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.

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

His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's determination was the potential of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.

The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.

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

He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.