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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and given more than 27 years in prison, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.

This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said information from the facility tracking his home detention 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 chaos caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Donald Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

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

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

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.