The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was convicted of planning a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he continued under house arrest pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.
This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.
His child, Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The legal document emphasizes that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist US President Donald Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a custody hearing on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he failed to win the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a plot which included plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, the capital city.
The police intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.
