The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The ex-president was convicted of planning a military coup in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in prison, but he continued under confinement pending appeals.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.
This involved trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the detention, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's plan to remove the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His child, Flávio, who holds office as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of Bolsonaro's move to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The judicial paperwork highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from the former president's residence.
International Reactions
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on the following day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a scheme aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The scheme was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. Lula was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a week later, on January 8th, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.
The law enforcement intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
