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

The one-time leader was convicted of planning a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.

This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.

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

His child, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.

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

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.

The law enforcement took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

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