Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.
This encompassed trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a document approving the detention, the judge said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of the former president's move to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
He was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to kill his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, many his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.
