The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The former head of state was sentenced of orchestrating a government overthrow in September and given more than over two decades in jail, but he continued under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.
This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a demonstration that could "allow for a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the arrest, the magistrate said intelligence from the centre monitoring the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his child.
His child, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his followers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
The senator wrote on online platforms on the previous day: Will you battle for your country, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the judge's ruling was the potential of the former president's "relocation to foreign missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to request asylum through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the federal district, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow right-wing populist United States President Donald Trump, leading him to enact a 50% tariff on Brazilian product imports.
He is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will have a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he required regular treatment for lung conditions and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of heading a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the presidential race to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he was aware of a plot which included plans to assassinate his opponent and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was thwarted because it didn't receive the endorsement of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, numerous his followers attacked and damaged public facilities in the federal district, Brazil's capital.
The police stepped in and around 1,500 people were detained.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
