Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a military coup in last fall and handed more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.
This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the magistrate said information from the unit overseeing 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 escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a assembly of his followers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of the former president's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that he be authorized to leave his home for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.
