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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and given more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

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

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.

His son, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."

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

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also requested that the former president be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.

The law enforcement stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by him whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.

The former president called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.