The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The former head of state was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in September and given more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.
This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the custody, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the former leader's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His son, his son Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to ask for protection through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to murder the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.
