Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a military coup in September and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.
This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the custody, the judge said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or see it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the possibility of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, prompting him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.
The law enforcement took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
