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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 former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and given more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.

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

His son wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to ask for protection through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also requested that the former president be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he knew of a plot which included plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

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

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.