The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and handed more than over two decades in incarceration, but he remained under house arrest pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information emerged.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said intelligence from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your sofa? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, causing him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a detention review on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
