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

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.

His son, Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, many his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.