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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and given more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after fresh information came to light.

This involved seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.

His child, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also requested that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

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

The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

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