Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was convicted of orchestrating a armed takeover in September and handed more than over two decades in incarceration, but he continued under confinement pending court reviews.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a preventative measure after "new facts" emerged.
This encompassed attempting to break his tracking device and a summons to a public vigil that could enable a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a document approving the detention, Justice Moraes said intelligence from the unit overseeing Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be "facilitated by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his son.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his followers near his father's house to take place on Saturday evening.
The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your phone there on your couch? I call on you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could offer prayers for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our nation."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the judge's ruling was the chance of his transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, Brasilia, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
The former president's legal troubles have drawn the ire of fellow populist conservative US President Donald Trump, causing him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on Friday that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the Top Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under house arrest, with electronic monitoring.
They also petitioned that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for medical care, saying he needed regular treatment for lung conditions and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was convicted of heading a plot aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to kill Lula and his VP candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing the former president's case.
The scheme was thwarted because it didn't receive the support of the military leaders. Lula was took office without incident on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, many his backers attacked and damaged official structures in the federal district, Brasília.
The law enforcement took action and around 1,500 people were arrested.
The judges found that the protesters had been provoked by him whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, restore order and bring him back to power.
At the period, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also prohibited from seeking elected position until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.
The one-time head of state called the court case a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the 2026 presidential election.
