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Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.

The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.

This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.

His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.

His son wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."

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

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.

Background on Conviction

The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.

The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. The current president was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on the eighth of January, numerous his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.

The police intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.