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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.

The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in September and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.

This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.

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

His child, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.

The senator wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, 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 supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.

The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also asked that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

The former president was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, the capital city.

The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the moment, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.

He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.

The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.