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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.

This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the detention, the judge said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.

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

His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that the former president be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

He was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The plot was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. His successor was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The police intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the time, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.