The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The former head of state was sentenced of planning a armed takeover in last fall and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under confinement pending appeals.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after fresh information emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a call for a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said information from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to ensure success in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a senator, called for a meeting of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on Friday: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the gathering would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the judge's determination was the potential of the former president's transfer to embassies near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to seek refuge through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The legal document underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, causing him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will undergo a detention review on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to permit him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with tracking devices.
They also asked that the former president be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.
High Court judges said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was prevented because it couldn't obtain the support of the army and air force commanders. His successor was sworn in without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, numerous Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised public facilities in the capital, the capital city.
The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The judges found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the time, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from campaigning for office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The one-time head of state called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him running in the 2026 national vote.
