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Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The former head of state was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.

This involved seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His child, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms 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 fight with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.

The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, causing him to enact a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.

Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of leading 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 knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.

The police stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.

He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.