Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.
This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a invitation to a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also requested that he be authorized to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the military leaders. Lula was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, many his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.
