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

The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a military coup in last fall and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of the former president's move to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also asked that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other health problems.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his followers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.

The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The judges found that the protesters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.

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

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.