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

The ex-president was convicted of planning a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.

This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.

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

The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the possibility of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long 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 targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.