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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was convicted of plotting a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The legal document emphasizes that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Trump, prompting him to implement a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a detention review on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. The current president was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, many his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The justices found that the rioters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.