The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a military coup in September and sentenced more than 27 years in jail, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information were revealed.
This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of his move to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The legal document highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being detained in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also petitioned that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was determined responsible of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. The current president was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged government buildings in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The justices found that the protesters had been provoked by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and return him to office.
At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 national vote.
