Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the detention, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of the former president's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
He was found guilty of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was prevented because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
