Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was convicted of planning a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.
This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest 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 demonstration called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - 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. His successor was sworn in without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, many his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the period, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight 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 running in the 2026 presidential election.
