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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and given more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.

This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.

His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a consular facility", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which included plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, the capital city.

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

The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the next presidential race.