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

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.

This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of his "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Donald Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that he be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, many his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, the capital city.

The law enforcement stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The justices found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.