The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was found guilty of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.
This involved seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the surveillance device to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also requested that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, the legal team called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.
