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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The former head of state was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.

This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.

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

His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."

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

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the possibility of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, the capital city.

The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the period, the legal team called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.