Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The ex-president was convicted of planning a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.
This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president'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 gathering called by his son.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on the eighth of January, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The police stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 national vote.
