The former Brazilian leader has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was sentenced of plotting a armed takeover in September and handed more than a 27-year term in prison, but he remained under home detention pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a safety action after "new facts" were revealed.
This involved attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a document approving the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the electronic ankle bracelet to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
His son wrote on digital networks on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your country, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your settee? I call on you to struggle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so followers could offer prayers for his physical condition and for the return of democracy in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of his "relocation to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the inquiries revealed a background of organizing to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The court filing underscores that the United States embassy in the federal district, Brasilia, is situated around 13km from Bolsonaro's home.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, leading him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being kept in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will have a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the Supreme Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with tracking devices.
They also asked that he be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was determined responsible of leading a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which included plans to murder his opponent and his running partner, his vice-presidential candidate, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the army and air force commanders. His successor was sworn in without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, numerous his followers invaded and destroyed government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by him whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the time, the legal team called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from running for public office until 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the trial a political persecution and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 national vote.
