Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The former head of state was found guilty of planning a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's decision was the potential of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also requested that the former president be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the military leaders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.
The police took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and return him to office.
At the period, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years 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 next presidential race.
