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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 ex-president was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.

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

His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

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

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.