The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The former head of state was found guilty of plotting a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.
This included seeking to disable his tracking device and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the custody, the judge said data from the centre monitoring 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 "facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who serves as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist American leader Donald Trump, causing him to enact a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to kill the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.
