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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 house arrest.

The one-time leader was found guilty of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.

This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of his move to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the US embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, leading him to impose a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. The current president was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brasília.

The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and return him to office.

At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

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 legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.