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

The ex-president was convicted of planning a government overthrow in September and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the custody, the judge said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.

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

The senator wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."

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

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of his move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, causing him to implement a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The plot was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.