Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was sentenced of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This involved seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of the former president's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.
