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Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".

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

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.

The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

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

He is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment 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 tracking devices.

They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

He was convicted of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which included plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.