Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The ex-president was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments were revealed.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the potential of his "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being kept in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that he be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plan which included plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the capital, Brasília.
The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the next presidential race.
