Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in September and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.
This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His son, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will experience a detention review on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, Brasília.
The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.
