Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under confinement pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a document approving the arrest, the judge said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. His successor was sworn in without incident on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on the eighth of January, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.
