Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The ex-president was found guilty of planning a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.
This included trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on social media on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a custody hearing on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
The former president was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.
The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 national vote.
