The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was sentenced of plotting a government overthrow in the ninth month and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.
This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the detention, the magistrate said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His child, his son Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader President Trump, prompting him to implement a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being held in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that the former president be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he required regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
He was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plot which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The plot was stopped because it didn't receive the backing of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.
The police intervened and around 1,500 people were detained.
The judges found that the protesters had been incited by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the time, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.