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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was convicted of planning a armed takeover in last fall and given more than over two decades in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his getaway".

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

His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of his "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also requested that the former president be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was convicted of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plan which included plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.

The police intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

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

The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 presidential election.