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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The former head of state was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This involved seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the potential of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

He was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brasília.

The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and return him to office.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

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

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