The former Brazilian president taken into custody after being deemed a flight risk

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 convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.

This included seeking to disable his tracking device and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his child.

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to kill his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.

The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.

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