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

The former head of state was found guilty of planning a military coup in September and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.

This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.

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

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of his "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the US embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.

They also requested that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, the capital city.

The police intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.

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

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.

The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.