The former Brazilian president arrested after being declared a risk of fleeing

The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and given more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information came to light.

This involved seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to fight 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."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was found guilty of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. His successor was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, many his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, the capital city.

The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The justices found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.