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Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and given more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.

This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable 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 son.

His child, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."

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

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

The former president was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plot which included plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, Brasília.

The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The justices found that the rioters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from campaigning for 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 political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.