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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 home confinement.

The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.

This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's determination was the potential of his transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also requested that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

He was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was prevented because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the national capital, Brasília.

The law enforcement stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.

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