The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in September and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments emerged.
This encompassed trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the detention, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the protest called by his child.
His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's determination was the potential of his transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, causing him to implement a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that the former president be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for lung conditions and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was convicted of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plot which encompassed plans to kill his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.
The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. The current president was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brasília.
The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the time, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.
