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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and given more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.

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

This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's decision was the chance of the former president's move to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

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

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to kill the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.