Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a armed takeover in September and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.
This included attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a public vigil that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said information from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that the former president be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.
