The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in last fall and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after fresh information came to light.
This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor 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 judge 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 secure accomplishment in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's move to foreign missions near the home, considering that the probes revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is positioned around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that he be authorized to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
He was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been overseeing Bolsonaro's trial.
The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the endorsement of the armed forces officials. The current president was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his backers stormed and vandalised official structures in the capital, Brasília.
The security forces stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were arrested.
The judges found that the rioters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.
