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

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after fresh information came to light.

This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

His son, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, 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 nation, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of his move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that he be authorized to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

The former president was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

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

The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.