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

The ex-president was convicted of planning a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his getaway".

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

His son, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

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 domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that he be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, Brasília.

The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.