Bolsonaro has been taken into custody after authorities concluded he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under house arrest.
The ex-president was convicted of planning a government overthrow in last fall and given more than a 27-year term in prison, but he was staying under house arrest pending appeals.
Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Justice Moraes said the decision to arrest the septuagenarian politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.
This included attempting to break his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could "allow for a possible escape.
Judicial Records Show Escape Concerns
In a document approving the custody, the magistrate said data from the facility tracking his home detention suggested the ex-president's plan to remove the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his escape.
This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his son.
His offspring, his son Flávio, who holds office as a legislator, called for a assembly of his backers near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.
His son wrote on online platforms on Friday: "Are you going to fight for your nation, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your couch? I urge you to fight with us."
He said the vigil would be so backers could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our country."
Embassy Asylum Concerns
Part of the magistrate's decision was the possibility of his transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the investigations revealed a record of planning to request asylum through a consular facility", a statement said.
The court filing emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from his dwelling.
Worldwide Consequences
His judicial problems have generated frustration from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, leading him to implement a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
The former president is being kept in a national police facility in the capital and will undergo a custody hearing on Sunday.
Recent Legal Requests
It was only on Friday that the his legal team asked the High Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with tracking devices.
They also requested that Bolsonaro be allowed to exit his dwelling for healthcare, saying he demanded ongoing care for lung conditions and other health problems.
Context of Sentencing
He was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at keeping him in power after he lost the presidential race to his political opponent, President Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which involved plans to murder his opponent and his vice-presidential running mate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Alexandre de Moraes - the High Court judge who has been presiding over the former president's case.
The scheme was stopped because it couldn't obtain the endorsement of the military leaders. The current president was took office without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on the eighth of January, numerous his followers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the federal district, the capital city.
The security forces took action and around approximately 1,500 persons were taken into custody.
The justices found that the demonstrators had been encouraged by Bolsonaro whose strategy, they said, was for the country's army to step in, reestablish control and bring him back to power.
At the moment, the legal team called the 27 years and three months sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also banned from running for public office until twenty-sixty - eight years later after the completion of his term.
The one-time head of state called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was intended to stop him participating in the next presidential race.
