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Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The one-time leader was found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.

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

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.

Global Responses

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

He is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

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

The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.