Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.
This encompassed trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of heading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.
