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The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.

The one-time leader was found guilty of planning a military coup in September and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.

This included seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.

His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I call on you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of the former president's transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that he be authorized to leave his home for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Context of Sentencing

He was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.

Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was stopped because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.

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

The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.

At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.