The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The ex-president was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in last fall and given more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" came to light.
This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the arrest, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's decision was the potential of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to enact a fifty percent tax on Brazilian product imports.
He is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that he be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
High Court judges said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.
