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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.

This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.

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

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

He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also asked that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

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

But a week later, on 8 January, many his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.

The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

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