Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.
This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative United States President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, many his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.
The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.
