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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and given more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.

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

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

His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of his move to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also requested that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, Brasília.

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

The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.