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

The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a document approving the detention, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.

His son, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's decision was the potential of his "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, leading him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will have a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that the former president be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, Brasília.

The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.