The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the detention, the magistrate said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a background of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being kept in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that the former president be permitted to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, many his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.
The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the next presidential race.
