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

The ex-president was found guilty of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition 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 embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a detention review on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, Brasília.

The security forces stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.