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

The one-time leader was found guilty of planning a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.

This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also petitioned that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro 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.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.