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

The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a military coup in last fall and given more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the custody, the judge said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

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

His son, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the possibility of his move to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.

The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 national vote.