Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.
This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the possibility of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to request asylum 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 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that the former president be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. The current president was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.
