Bolsonaro has been detained after authorities concluded he posed a definite escape threat while under house arrest.
The former head of state was sentenced of planning a military coup in September and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he was staying under home detention pending appeals.
High Court Judge Alexandre de Moraes said the action to imprison the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after recent developments were revealed.
This encompassed trying to remove his tracking device and a summons to a supporters' gathering that could "allow for a possible escape.
Legal Document Reveals Flight Fears
In a paperwork permitting the arrest, Justice Moraes said information from the unit overseeing his home detention suggested the one-time head of state's aim to disable the electronic ankle bracelet to guarantee victory in his flight.
This, it said, would be assisted by the confusion caused by the gathering called by his offspring.
His child, Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a gathering of his supporters near his father's house to take place on Saturday night.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or watch it all from your smartphone there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the demonstration would be so supporters could "pray for his health and for the return of democracy in our country."
Foreign Shelter Risks
Part of the magistrate's decision was the potential of his "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a record of organizing to request asylum through a embassy office", a statement said.
The court filing highlights that the United States embassy in the national capital, Brazil's capital, is located around 8 miles from his dwelling.
International Reactions
Bolsonaro's legal woes have drawn the ire of fellow conservative nationalist United States President Donald Trump, causing him to impose a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.
The former president is being detained in a federal law enforcement building in Brasilia and will experience a imprisonment assessment on the following day.
Latest Court Petitions
It was only on the previous day that the ex-leader's attorneys asked the High Court to authorize him to complete his entire prison term under home confinement, with digital surveillance.
They also requested that the former president be allowed to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for respiratory ailments and other ailments.
Details of Guilty Verdict
Bolsonaro was convicted of leading a conspiracy aimed at maintaining his control after he failed to win the national vote to his left-wing rival, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he had knowledge of a scheme which encompassed plans to assassinate his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Geraldo Alckmin, and to arrest and execute the presiding judge - the Supreme Court justice who has been presiding over Bolsonaro's trial.
The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was inaugurated without problem on the first day of 2023.
But a following week, on January 8th, thousands of Bolsonaro supporters invaded and destroyed public facilities in the federal district, Brasília.
The police stepped in and around approximately 1,500 persons were arrested.
The magistrates found that the demonstrators had been provoked by him whose scheme, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the over 27-year sentence extremely harsh.
He was also prohibited from running for public office until the year 2060 - eight years later after the conclusion of his imprisonment.
The ex-leader called the court case a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him participating in the 2026 national vote.
