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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.

The former head of state was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.

This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.

Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of his transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.

The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, the capital city, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

Worldwide Consequences

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

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

Context of Sentencing

He was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.

The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.

The judges 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 reinstate his authority.

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

He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.