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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a military coup in September and given more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

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

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

He was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The judges found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

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

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