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Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a military coup in September and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

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

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The legal document highlights that the US embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

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

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without issue on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, many his followers invaded and destroyed official structures in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and return him to office.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.