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

The ex-president was convicted of planning a military coup in September and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.

This included seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.

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

The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

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

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on the eighth of January, numerous his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

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

The judges found that the rioters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.

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

The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.