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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and given more than over two decades in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said data from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle 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 land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the US embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. Lula was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

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

The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

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

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

The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.