Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The ex-president was convicted of planning a government overthrow in last fall and given more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments emerged.
This included trying to remove his tracking device and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, 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 backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of the former president's move to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brasilia, is located around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty 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 Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was thwarted because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without incident on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 national vote.
