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

The ex-president was sentenced of planning a military coup in the ninth month and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the surveillance device to ensure success 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 congressional representative, called for a assembly of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

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

He said the vigil would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is located around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also requested that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the national capital, the capital city.

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

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.

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