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

The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in September and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after fresh information came to light.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.

His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's decision was the chance of his move to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many his followers invaded and destroyed official structures in the federal district, the capital city.

The police took action and around 1,500 people were detained.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

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 after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.