Jair Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.
This involved trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's decision was the potential of his move to embassies near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.
Details of Guilty Verdict
The former president was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. The current president was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, many his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, the capital city.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and return him to office.
At the time, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.
