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The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.

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

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader President Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

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

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, many his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.

The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.