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Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The former head of state was convicted of planning a government overthrow in last fall and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.

This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his getaway".

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

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a assembly of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."

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

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

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

The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and return him to office.

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

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

The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.