The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in September and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.
His child, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised public facilities in the capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
