Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the protest called by his son.
His son, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, the capital city, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which included plans to murder Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on the eighth of January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.
The police took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and return him to office.
At the period, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
