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

The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under confinement pending appeals.

High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.

This included attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".

Court Filing Details Flight Fears

In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".

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

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

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."

He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the possibility of his move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.

The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.

They also petitioned that he be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

He was found guilty of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.

Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, numerous his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, the capital city.

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

The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.

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

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

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