The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was sentenced of plotting a military coup in last fall and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under home detention pending legal challenges.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.
This included attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a document approving the arrest, the judge said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your couch? I invite you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which included plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was prevented because it failed to get the support of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed official structures in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.
