The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in the ninth month and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.
This included attempting to break his tracking device and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the return of democracy in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, prompting him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also asked that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to murder Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The plot was prevented because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.
The police intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the time, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 national vote.
