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

The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a military coup in September and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.

His son, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a declaration said.

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

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. Lula was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

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

He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 presidential election.