The former Brazilian president detained after being considered a flight risk
Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The former head of state was sentenced of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" were revealed.
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 information from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near his father's house 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 mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the chance of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a detention review on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
He was found guilty of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plan which encompassed plans to murder the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.