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Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.

The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and given more than 27 years in prison, but he remained under home detention pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his getaway".

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

His son, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

The senator wrote on online platforms on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brasilia, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.

Context of Sentencing

He was found guilty of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.

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

He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.