The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in September and given more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.
This included seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a document approving the custody, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of his transfer to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to murder his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. The current president was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police took action and around 1,500 people were detained.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and return him to office.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
