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

The ex-president was found guilty of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.

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

His son, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.

The police stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.