Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in September and handed more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he remained under home detention pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. Lula was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brasília.
The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and return him to office.
At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.
