Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in September and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under home detention pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.
This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on social media on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's determination was the chance of the former president's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will undergo a custody hearing on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.
