The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under home confinement.
The former head of state was convicted of planning a military coup in September and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after fresh information were revealed.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the detention, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His child, his son Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of the former president's "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a fifty percent tax on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
The former president was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plot which involved plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without issue on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, many his followers stormed and vandalised official structures in the federal district, Brasília.
The police intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The justices found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the period, his attorneys called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.
