Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The former head of state was sentenced of planning a government overthrow in last fall and sentenced more than a 27-year term in incarceration, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge Justice Moraes said the move to detain the septuagenarian politician was a preventative measure after recent developments were revealed.
This encompassed seeking to disable his tracking device and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a possible escape.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the arrest, the judge said intelligence from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the former leader's "intention to break the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His child, his son Flávio, who works as a congressional representative, called for a meeting of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your settee? I invite you to fight with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's decision was the chance of his "relocation to embassies near the residence, considering that the investigations revealed a record of arranging to ask for protection through a consular facility", a declaration said.
The court filing emphasizes that the United States embassy in the national capital, the capital city, is positioned around 13km from the former president's residence.
Global Responses
The former president's legal troubles have generated frustration from fellow right-wing populist American leader Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being held in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a custody hearing on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to authorize him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to exit his dwelling for medical treatment, saying he needed ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
The former president was convicted of leading a scheme aimed at retaining his authority after he failed to win the 2022 election to his political opponent, Lula.
Top judicial officials said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Geraldo Alckmin, and to imprison and murder Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the backing of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without incident on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, many his followers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the national capital, Brazil's capital.
The police intervened and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose plan, they said, was for the country's army to intervene, bring back stability and return him to office.
At the moment, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years after the completion of his term.
The former president called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was intended to stop him competing in the 2026 presidential election.
