The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a military coup in the ninth month and given more than over two decades in prison, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" emerged.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a call for a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a document approving the custody, the judge said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His child, Flávio Bolsonaro, who holds office as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your phone there on your sofa? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of the former president's move to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President President Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will undergo a detention review on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that he be authorized to depart his residence for medical treatment, saying he demanded regular treatment for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was found guilty of heading a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate Lula and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the backing of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, numerous his backers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the national capital, Brasília.
The police intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the period, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the trial a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.
