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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The former head of state was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.

His son, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

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

The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a detention review on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

The former president was convicted of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without issue on the first day of 2023.

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

The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, the legal team 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 end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.