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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.

The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in September and given more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".

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

His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was found guilty of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.