Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The former head of state was convicted of plotting a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His son, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing 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 week later, on January 8th, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the next presidential race.
