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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The former head of state was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a document approving the detention, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.

His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, many his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The police stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The judges found that the protesters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.