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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 domestic detention.

The ex-president was convicted of planning a armed takeover in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.

This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.

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

His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The justices found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

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

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.