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Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.

This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

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

His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of his move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Global Responses

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also asked that he be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the military leaders. His successor was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brasília.

The law enforcement stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.