Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was found guilty of orchestrating a government overthrow in the ninth month and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of the former president's transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being detained in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that he be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which included plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was prevented because it didn't receive the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. The current president was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.
