Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after recent developments came to light.
This involved trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle 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 physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of his move to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the US embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, 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 failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and return him to office.
At the moment, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from running for public 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 participating in the next presidential race.
