Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of his "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 national vote.
