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

The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.

This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".

Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks

In a document approving the arrest, the judge said information from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.

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

His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a legislator, called for a assembly of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.

His son wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."

He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."

Foreign Shelter Risks

Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.

Worldwide Consequences

His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.

The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on Sunday.

Latest Court Petitions

It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.

They also petitioned that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.

Background on Conviction

The former president was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.

High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.

The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.

But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, Brasília.

The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.

At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.

He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.

The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.