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

The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.

Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.

This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".

This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of his "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.

The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a custody hearing on the following day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

He was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.

The plot was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, many his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The security forces stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.

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