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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a armed takeover in the ninth month and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.

This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.

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

His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Global Responses

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a detention review on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.

The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the time, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

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

The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.