The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under domestic detention.
The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a armed takeover in September and handed more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under confinement pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.
This encompassed seeking to disable his electronic bracelet and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Flight Fears
In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said information from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His son, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on social media on Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your country, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could "pray for his physical condition and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.
The legal document highlights that the US embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist US President Donald Trump, leading him to impose a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a national police facility in Brasilia and will experience a detention review on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that the former president be authorized to leave his home for medical treatment, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the 2022 election to his political opponent, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to imprison and murder Alexandre de Moraes - the top judicial official who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was thwarted because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, many his backers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police stepped in and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 national vote.
