The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was convicted of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.
This encompassed attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a document approving the custody, the judge said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the protest called by his child.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the possibility of Bolsonaro's transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of planning to ask for protection through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the capital, the capital city, is situated around 8 miles from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist American leader President Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being held in a national police facility in the capital and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to leave his home for medical care, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the national vote to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to kill the current president and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
