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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.

His child, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, Brasília.

The police intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by him whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

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

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