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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

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

This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."

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

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

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

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.

The police took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.