He had been under house arrest since he was found guilty in September, but has been moved to jail after allegedly attempting to remove his ankle monitor.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has begun serving a 27-year prison sentence after being convicted of an attempted coup.
Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has overseen the case, ruled the 70-year-old must remain in custody rather than being moved back to house arrest after he allegedly attempted to break his ankle monitor on Saturday.
Bolsonaro said he was suffering from “hallucinations” brought on by prescription medication, but Moraes dismissed the claim.
The former president and several of his allies were convicted by Brazil’s Supreme Court in September for attempting to overthrow the country’s democracy following his 2022 election defeat.
They were found guilty of planning to kill President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, and de Moraes and encouraging an insurrection in early 2023.
Bolsonaro was also convicted of charges including leading an armed criminal organization and attempting the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law.
House Arrest for Trump-Related Charge
Bolsonaro faced separate charges of soliciting the interference of U.S. President Donald Trump, for which he was under house arrest.
Bolsonaro, a former military officer and a social conservative, has always denied wrongdoing.
In September, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the trial of the former Brazilian leader a “witch hunt.” Trump has drawn parallels to his own legal battles.
The day after a letter sent by Trump to Bolsonaro in July was made public, the Brazilian Supreme Court responded with warrants and restraining orders banning Bolsonaro from contacting foreign officials concerning the charges.
Bolsonaro was mentioned by the U.S. government in a July order to raise tariffs on several Brazilian exports by 50 percent, although most of these higher tariffs have since been dropped.
Supporters and detractors of Bolsonaro gathered outside the federal police headquarters after the order for his imprisonment was issued, some calling for his release and others celebrating his imprisonment.
Bolsonaro will be kept in solitary confinement with no contact with the few other inmates at the federal police headquarters, in a 12-square-meter room with a bed, a private bathroom, air conditioning, a TV set, and a desk, according to federal police.
He will be granted free access to his doctors and lawyers, but other visitors will have their orders approved by the Supreme Court.
