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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was found guilty of planning a military coup in September and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after fresh information came to light.

This included seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that he be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.