The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under home confinement.
The ex-president was sentenced of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than over two decades in prison, but he remained under home detention pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information came to light.
This included seeking to disable his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the gathering called by his son.
His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on digital networks on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or see it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, prompting him to enact a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being kept in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
He was found guilty of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which included plans to assassinate the current president and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the national capital, the capital city.
The law enforcement stepped in and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The judges found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from running for public office until 2060 - eight years later after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
