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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was sentenced of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and given more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending appeals.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.

This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Escape Risks

In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.

This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.

His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a embassy office", a declaration said.

The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.

International Reactions

His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.

Recent Legal Requests

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

They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.

Context of Sentencing

Bolsonaro was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.

The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.

The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and bring him back to power.

At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.

The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the next presidential race.