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

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in September and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after fresh information came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said data from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His son, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

He was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, many his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, the capital city.

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

The judges found that the rioters had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.

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