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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The former head of state was convicted of planning a government overthrow in September and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under home detention pending court reviews.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.

This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.

His child, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

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

He is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

He was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, numerous his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.