The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was sentenced of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and given more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.
This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's ruling was the possibility of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that he be authorized to leave his home for medical care, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which included plans to murder Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
