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 plotting a armed takeover in last fall and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he continued under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the centre monitoring Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the potential of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President President Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also requested that he be allowed to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed frequent medical attention for lung conditions and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices 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 the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without issue on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.
The security forces took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the trial a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.
