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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the protest called by his child.

His child, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a assembly of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that he be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the federal district, Brasília.

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

The judges found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the moment, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned 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 political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.