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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.

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

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.

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

His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader President Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

He is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

He was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a plot which included plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.

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

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

At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.