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Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

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

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

His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

He is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.