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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

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

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The police stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.