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 found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in September and given more than 27 years in jail, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" came to light.
This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the chance of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the High Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also asked that the former president be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brasília.
The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.
