Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities found he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The ex-president was found guilty of orchestrating a military coup in September and given more than a 27-year term in jail, but he remained under house arrest pending court reviews.
Top Judicial Official Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after fresh information came to light.
This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to secure accomplishment in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the disorder caused by the demonstration called by his son.
His son, Flávio, who holds office as a senator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on social media on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your nation, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so backers could "pray for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the chance of his move to diplomatic missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a declaration said.
The legal document highlights that the United States embassy in the capital, Brasilia, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
Bolsonaro's legal woes have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader President Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brasilia and will experience a custody hearing on the following day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the former president's lawyers asked the Top Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with electronic monitoring.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to leave his home for healthcare, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other illnesses.
Context of Sentencing
Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his political opponent, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a plan which included plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The scheme was prevented because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was inaugurated without issue on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brazil's capital.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were detained.
The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, bring back stability 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 the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a "witch hunt and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
