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Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His child, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's decision was the chance of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also requested that he be authorized to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The justices found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.

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

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

The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.