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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments emerged.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a document approving the custody, the judge said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.

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

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plan which included plans to murder the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The judges found that the rioters had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.

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

The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.