Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a document approving the arrest, the judge said data from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his child.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of his transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
He was convicted of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.
The scheme was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on the eighth of January, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 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 competing in the next presidential race.
