Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.
His child, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in the capital 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 Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that the former president be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The judges found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.
