The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was convicted of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he continued under home detention pending court reviews.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.
This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a invitation to a public vigil that could facilitate a potential flight.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the former leader's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His offspring, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a assembly of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
His son wrote on online platforms on last Friday: Will you battle for your country, or see it all from your phone there on your couch? I urge you to struggle with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Global Responses
His judicial problems have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative US President President Trump, leading him to impose a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
Bolsonaro is being held in a federal law enforcement building in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required frequent medical attention for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the presidential race to his ideological adversary, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Top judicial officials said that he knew of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been managing the former president's case.
The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the support of the military leaders. His successor was inaugurated without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the capital, the capital city.
The security forces stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, bring back stability and bring him back to power.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The former president called the trial a targeted investigation" and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
