Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is located around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, the capital city.
The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.
