The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The one-time leader was sentenced of planning a military coup in the ninth month and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.
This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Escape Concerns
In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said data from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a assembly of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your settee? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's determination was the possibility of Bolsonaro's "relocation to embassies near the home, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork underscores that the US embassy in the federal district, Brazil's capital, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative United States President President Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being held in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to authorize him to fulfill his full incarceration period under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that he be allowed to leave his home for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of leading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plan which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The plot was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. His successor was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on 8 January, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brasília.
The security forces stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been incited by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to take action, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence extremely harsh.
He was also barred from campaigning for office until 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the court case a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the next presidential race.
