Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The ex-president was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.
This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to foreign missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, causing him to implement a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to murder Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the period, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
