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

The one-time leader was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and given more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of his "relocation to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

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

He is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. The current president was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

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

The former president called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.