Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and handed more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.
This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the possibility of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
He is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a detention review on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
He was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, many his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.
