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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a document approving the arrest, the judge said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his getaway".

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

His child, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."

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

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's decision was the potential of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

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

The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

He was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the backing of the military leaders. His successor was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.

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

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

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.