Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The former head of state was found guilty of planning a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill the current president 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 his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.
