Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.
This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said data from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the protest called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
