The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.
This involved seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the protest called by his son.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's determination was the potential of his "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to seek refuge through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from his dwelling.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, causing him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.
The security forces intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the next presidential race.
