The former Brazilian leader has been taken into custody after authorities determined he posed a serious risk of fleeing while under home confinement.
The ex-president was sentenced of orchestrating a military coup in September and sentenced more than 27 years in incarceration, but he was staying under house arrest pending legal challenges.
High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" came to light.
This involved attempting to break his ankle monitor and a summons to a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.
Court Filing Details Escape Concerns
In a filing authorising the detention, Justice Moraes said data from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the one-time head of state's "intention to break the tracking monitor to guarantee victory in his getaway".
This, it said, would be assisted by the chaos caused by the protest called by his offspring.
His son, Flávio, who serves as a senator, called for a gathering of his backers near the former president's residence to take place on the weekend.
Flávio Bolsonaro wrote on social media on the previous day: Will you battle for your nation, or watch it all from your mobile device there on your couch? I call on you to battle with us."
He said the vigil would be so followers could seek divine intervention for his well-being and for the return of democracy in our country."
Diplomatic Refuge Fears
Part of the magistrate's ruling was the possibility of the former president's transfer to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the probes revealed a history of arranging to seek refuge through a embassy office", a declaration said.
The judicial paperwork emphasizes that the American diplomatic mission in the national capital, Brasilia, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.
International Reactions
The former president's legal troubles have provoked anger from fellow conservative nationalist American leader Donald Trump, causing him to enact a half-rate duty on imports of Brazilian goods.
Bolsonaro is being detained in a Federal Police station in Brazil's capital city and will experience a detention review on the next day.
Recent Judicial Appeals
It was only on last Friday that the his legal team asked the Top Court to allow him to serve his whole jail sentence under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.
They also asked that he be permitted to depart his residence for healthcare, saying he required ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other illnesses.
Background on Conviction
Bolsonaro was convicted of orchestrating a plot aimed at maintaining his control after he lost the national vote to his political opponent, Lula.
Supreme Court justices said that he knew of a plan which included plans to murder the current president and his VP candidate, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the High Court judge who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.
The conspiracy was prevented because it didn't receive the endorsement of the military leaders. Lula was sworn in without problem on 1 January 2023.
But a seven days after, on 8 January, many his backers stormed and vandalised government buildings in the capital, Brasília.
The police took action and around fifteen hundred individuals were taken into custody.
The magistrates found that the rioters had been provoked by the former president whose strategy, they said, was for the Brazilian military to intervene, reestablish control and return him to office.
At the time, Bolsonaro's lawyers called the decades-long sentence "absurdly excessive.
He was also barred from seeking elected position until twenty-sixty - eight years after the end of his sentence.
The ex-leader called the trial a "witch hunt and said it was designed to prevent him running in the next presidential race.
