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Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in the ninth month and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under confinement pending appeals.

Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.

This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.

Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns

In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.

This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.

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

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.

He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the following day.

Recent Legal Requests

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.

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

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.

The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.

The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.

The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.

At the period, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.

The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 presidential election.