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Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.

His son, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the possibility of the former president's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

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

The former president is being kept in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.

The law enforcement intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

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

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