The former Brazilian president detained after being considered a flight risk

The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The ex-president was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.

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

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His child, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's determination was the chance of the former president's move to embassies near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, causing him to enact a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also requested that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was convicted of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.

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

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

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