The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he remained under confinement pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on digital networks on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's decision was the chance of Bolsonaro's "relocation to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President President Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that he be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was found guilty of heading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his followers attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the period, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
