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

The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a military coup in September and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.

This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.

Judicial Records Show Flight Fears

In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing his home detention 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 chaos caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.

His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.

Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."

He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.

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

International Reactions

The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the next day.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.

Details of Guilty Verdict

The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.

The scheme was stopped because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without issue on the first day of 2023.

But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, Brasília.

The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people 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, bring back stability and bring him back to power.

At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

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

The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.