Bolsonaro has been arrested after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The one-time leader was convicted of plotting a military coup in September and given more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under confinement pending legal challenges.
Top Judicial Official the presiding justice said the action to imprison the elderly politician was a preventative measure after fresh information emerged.
This included attempting to break his electronic bracelet and a invitation to a public vigil that could "allow for a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, the judge said information from the facility tracking Bolsonaro's house arrest suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the surveillance device to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be made easier by the chaos caused by the protest called by his son.
His offspring, Flávio Bolsonaro, who works as a congressional representative, called for a assembly of his followers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on Saturday night.
The senator wrote on digital networks on last Friday: "Are you going to fight for your country, or observe everything from your phone there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our land."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of his transfer to embassies near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of planning to seek refuge through a diplomatic representation", a announcement said.
The legal document emphasizes that the US embassy in the capital, the capital city, is located around 13km from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, prompting him to implement a fifty percent tax on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being kept in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will have a imprisonment assessment on the next day.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on the previous day that the former president's lawyers asked the High Court to allow him to complete his entire prison term under domestic detention, with electronic monitoring.
They also asked that Bolsonaro be permitted to leave his home for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other health problems.
Background on Conviction
The former president was determined responsible of heading a scheme aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the 2022 election to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a plan which involved plans to murder Lula and his vice-presidential running mate, his vice-presidential candidate, and to detain and kill the presiding judge - the High Court judge who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The conspiracy was prevented because it failed to get the support of the army and air force commanders. Lula was took office without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a week later, on 8 January, thousands of his followers invaded and destroyed official structures in the national capital, Brasília.
The police intervened and around 1,500 people were taken into custody.
The justices found that the protesters had been incited by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to take action, reestablish control and reinstate his authority.
At the time, his attorneys called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from seeking elected position until 2060 - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The ex-leader called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was intended to stop him running in the 2026 presidential election.