The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was found guilty of planning a government overthrow in last fall and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could enable a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: Will you battle for your country, or observe everything from your mobile device there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could "pray for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the potential of his move to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a embassy office", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that he be allowed to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his political opponent, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which involved plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The plot was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. The current president was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.
