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Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a military coup in last fall and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.

His offspring, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."

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

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, leading him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.

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

He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

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