Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under domestic detention.
The ex-president was found guilty of plotting a military coup in last fall and handed more than over two decades in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the 70-year-old politician was a precautionary step after recent developments came to light.
This included seeking to disable his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could enable a chance to flee".
Court Filing Details Escape Risks
In a filing authorising the custody, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the surveillance device to ensure success in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the demonstration called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who serves as a congressional representative, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on online platforms on the previous day: "Are you going to fight for your homeland, or see it all from your mobile device there on your sofa? I invite you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so supporters could offer prayers for his well-being and for the reestablishment of democratic governance in our land."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's determination was the chance of his transfer to diplomatic missions near the home, considering that the investigations revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a diplomatic representation", a statement said.
The judicial paperwork highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the federal district, the capital city, is located around 13km from the former president's residence.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have drawn the ire of fellow right-wing populist US President President Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on goods coming from Brazil.
He is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brazil's capital city and will undergo a detention review on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be authorized to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded regular treatment for pulmonary infections and other ailments.
Context of Sentencing
The former president was determined responsible of leading a conspiracy aimed at keeping him in power after he was defeated in the presidential race to his left-wing rival, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he was aware of a scheme which involved plans to assassinate the current president and his running partner, Alckmin, and to detain and kill Alexandre de Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over his judicial proceedings.
The scheme was stopped because it failed to get the backing of the military leaders. His successor was took office without problem on January 1st, 2023.
But a seven days after, on January 8th, many Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.
The law enforcement stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The judges found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose scheme, they said, was for the country's army to step in, restore order and reinstate his authority.
At the period, his attorneys called the decades-long sentence unreasonably severe".
He was also banned from campaigning for office until the year 2060 - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The former president called the court case a targeted investigation" and said it was designed to prevent him running in the 2026 presidential election.
