Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.
This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a document approving the detention, the judge said information from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the protest called by his son.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's move to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, causing him to enact 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 Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, the capital city.
The police intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 presidential election.
