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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.

The one-time leader was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.

This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns

In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.

This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his child.

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The legal document highlights that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.

The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, the capital city.

The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.

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

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

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

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