The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in last fall and handed more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a safety action after recent developments came to light.
This included trying to remove his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the arrest, the magistrate said information from the centre monitoring his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who serves as a legislator, called for a gathering of his backers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our nation."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of planning to ask for protection through a consular facility", a announcement said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brasilia, is situated around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist American leader President Trump, leading him to impose a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
The former president is being detained in a Federal Police station in the capital and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also requested that he be authorized to leave his home for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which included plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the top judicial official who has been overseeing his judicial proceedings.
The plot was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was sworn in without incident on the first day of 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the capital, Brasília.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The justices found that the protesters had been incited by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the moment, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the next presidential race.
