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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in September and given more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His child, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of the former president's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

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

The former president is being held in a national police facility 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 complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also requested that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

He was convicted of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. Lula was took office without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, many his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

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

He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.