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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after recent developments emerged.

This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said data from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.

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

His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the chance of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative United States President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

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 domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

He was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to murder the current president and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.

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

The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

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

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.