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

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.

This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

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

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

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

They also petitioned that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was convicted of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.

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

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.