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Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring 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 escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that the former president be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was stopped because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brasília.

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

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.

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

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

The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.