The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was convicted of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under home detention pending appeals.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments emerged.
This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a call for a demonstration that could enable a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Risks
In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Will you battle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's determination was the possibility of the former president's move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to murder Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the backing of the army and air force commanders. His successor was inaugurated without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The justices found that the rioters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
