Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information came to light.
This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.
His son, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that the former president be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. Lula was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brasília.
The police stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the period, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.
