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Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in September and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.

This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His child, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our land."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a detention review on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which included plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.

The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

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

The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.