Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.
This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His child, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's determination was the chance of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km 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 enact a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading 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 was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, many his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.
The police took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.
