The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was convicted of planning a armed takeover in the ninth month and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of planning to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being kept in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top 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 needed frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The plot was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.
