Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of his "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that the former president be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plot which involved plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.
The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed official structures in the federal district, Brasília.
The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and return him to office.
At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.
