Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of planning a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.
This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of his move to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, prompting him to impose a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. His successor was sworn in without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited 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 time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.
