Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was found guilty of plotting a military coup in September and given more than over two decades in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is positioned around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The security forces intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
