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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was convicted of planning a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.

His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

The former president was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plan which included plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.