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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.

This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his child.

His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of the former president's transfer 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 court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also requested that he be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plan which included plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.

The law enforcement took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.