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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in September and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.

This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.

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

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of his "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, leading him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a detention review on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also asked that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

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

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

The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.