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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The former head of state was found guilty of planning a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.

This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

His child, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a assembly of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

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

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of the former president's transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also requested that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

He was convicted of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. The current president was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.