Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was found guilty of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.
This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His son, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of his transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, many his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.
The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
