Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was found guilty of planning a armed takeover in last fall and given more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, leading him to impose a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
