The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities found he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.
This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could facilitate a potential flight.
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 former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of Justice Moraes's ruling was the chance of his transfer to foreign missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a history of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The legal document underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist US President Trump, prompting him to impose a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a imprisonment assessment on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the 2022 election to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to kill his opponent and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was sworn in without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, the capital city.
The law enforcement intervened and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The judges found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.
