The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The former head of state was sentenced of planning a military coup in last fall and handed more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official Alexandre de Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" were revealed.
This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could facilitate a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the former leader's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on social media on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or see it all from your smartphone there on your sofa? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his physical condition and for the restoration of democratic rule in our land."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of Justice Moraes's decision was the potential of the former president's transfer to diplomatic missions near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a background of arranging to request asylum through a embassy office", a announcement said.
The court filing highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is situated around 13km from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Supreme Court to permit him to serve his whole jail sentence under house arrest, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Background on Conviction
He was determined responsible of orchestrating a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
High Court judges said that he had knowledge of a plot which encompassed plans to assassinate Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been overseeing the former president's case.
The plot was prevented because it didn't receive the support of the armed forces officials. His successor was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a week later, on the eighth of January, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed official structures in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The justices found that the protesters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the moment, the legal team called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from running for public office until the year 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 participating in the next presidential race.
