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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 sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and given more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.

This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the protest called by his son.

His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of his move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, leading him to enact a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

He is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.

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

He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

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