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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.

The ex-president was sentenced of planning a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.

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

His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Embassy Asylum Concerns

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Donald Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.

They also requested that the former president be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to murder Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on January 8th, many his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

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

The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.

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

He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.