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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of planning a military coup in last fall and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after fresh information emerged.

This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the arrest, the judge said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.

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 he be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.

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

The police intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.

The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.