The former Brazilian president arrested after being deemed a flight risk

The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in September and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.

This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His son, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."

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

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a detention review on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

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

They also asked that the former president be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to murder the current president and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brasília.

The police intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

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

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.