Jair Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of planning a military coup in last fall and handed more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This involved attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a document approving the detention, the judge said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of his "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that he be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the moment, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 presidential election.