The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This included trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a chance to flee".
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.
His child, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's determination was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a embassy office", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also requested that the former president be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which encompassed plans to murder the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the army and air force commanders. His successor was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, many his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the national capital, Brasília.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The judges found that the protesters had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 presidential election.
