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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.

This involved seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the judge said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.

His child, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's determination was the chance of the former president's move to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to kill Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute 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 military leaders. The current president was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, the capital city.

The police intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.