Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a military coup in September and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a safety action after fresh information were revealed.
This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
The former president was found guilty of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to kill his opponent and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was prevented because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.
