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Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was convicted of planning a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.

This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".

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

His offspring, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."

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

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also asked that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

The former president was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which included plans to murder Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The justices found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.