Jair Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and given more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The legal document underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
The former president was found guilty of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. Lula was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The police stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and return him to office.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
