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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.

The one-time leader was found guilty of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information came to light.

This involved seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a statement said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to murder Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.

The plot was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.

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

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

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.