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

The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under confinement pending appeals.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.

This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, 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 offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to murder the current president and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the moment, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.

The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.