Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments emerged.
This encompassed trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His child, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were detained.
The judges found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
