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Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.

This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the judge said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".

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

His son, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the potential of his transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative United States President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

The former president is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with tracking devices.

They also requested that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.