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

The ex-president was sentenced of planning a military coup in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.

This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his child.

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

The senator wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."

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

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the possibility of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that he be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.

The plot was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.