Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.
This included trying to remove his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.
His son, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, the capital city, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which included plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.
