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

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and given more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."

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

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of the former president's move to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.

Global Responses

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

The former president is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a detention review on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the capital, Brasília.

The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.