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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.

This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break 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 offspring.

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

His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes'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 organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.

The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.