The former Brazilian president detained after being declared a risk of fleeing

The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was convicted of planning a government overthrow in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.

His son, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

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

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader Donald Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also asked that he be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the military leaders. His successor was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.

The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.

The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.