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Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The one-time leader was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of his move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was found guilty of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which included plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The police took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.

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

He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.