The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The ex-president was sentenced of planning a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after fresh information emerged.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His child, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of his move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.
The plot was thwarted because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the rioters had been provoked by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.
