Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was convicted of planning a government overthrow in September and handed more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.
This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His child, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, causing him to enact a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
He is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
The former president was found guilty of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and return him to office.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.
