The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in last fall and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the demonstration called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your settee? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of his transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a background of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the US embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 8 miles from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist United States President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to fulfill his full incarceration period under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
He was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.
High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was stopped because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was inaugurated without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, the capital city.
The police took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
