Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.
His child, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that he be permitted to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which involved plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.
The police intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.
