The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his child.
His child, his son Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's determination was the potential of his "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that he be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was convicted of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.
