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

The ex-president was convicted of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a document approving the arrest, the judge said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.

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

His son, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's determination was the potential of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a detention review on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The plot was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.

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

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

The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

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

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

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