Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's decision was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, causing him to implement 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 undergo a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.
