The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was sentenced of planning a military coup in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.
This encompassed attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the protest called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to enact a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was stopped because it failed to get the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.
The police intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.
