Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.
This included trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also requested that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plot which included plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, the capital city.
The police stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The justices found that the protesters 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, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.
