The former Brazilian president arrested after being declared a risk of fleeing

Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.

This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his child.

His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's determination was the chance of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being kept 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 Supreme Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The plot was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

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