Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.
This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also requested that he be permitted to leave his home for healthcare, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the national capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the period, the legal team called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.
